What is Riders4Helmets International Helmet Awareness Day 2013?
In 2010, Riders4Helmets hosted the first National event designed to educate equestrians on the benefits of wearing a properly fitting, secured and certified helmet. The event brought equestrian retailers and helmet manufacturers together, to help educate their customers on topics such as why wearing a helmet is important, correct helmet fit and replacing a helmet after a fall. Helmet manufacturers offered support by providing a special discount on their helmets for one day only. The inaugural event attracted participation from 300 retailers and 10 helmet manufacturers.
Building on that success, Riders4Helmets expanded the event globally in 2011 and in 2012 Riders4Helmets International Helmet Awareness Day received support from 10 helmet manufacturers and more than 500 equestrian retailers in the USA, Canada, Australia and the United Kingdom.
Riders4Helmets aims to grow the global growth of this year’s event by attracting equestrian retailers from European countries outside of the U.K., as well as equestrian retailers in New Zealand. This year Riders4Helmets will again offer printed educational materials in addition to an educational CD to both participating retailers and equestrians who wish to spread the message of helmet safety. Helmet retailers who are interested in participating in the event may register at www.riders4helmets.com/ihad/retailer-information/. Only retailers who formally register for the event will be eligible for discounts on helmets from participating manufacturers.
Live webinars
Riders4Helmets will host a series of live educational webinars on Riders4Helmets.com during the 2013 Riders4Helmets International Helmet Awareness Day. The webinars will feature a variety of experts in: Traumatic Brain Injury and Concussion; Psychologists; Neuro Physiotherapists; Helmet Manufacturers (tips on correctly fitting a helmet); Traumatic Brain Injury Survivors; Leading Equestrians, etc. Viewers will be able to ask “real-time” questions to these experts. Details of who the experts will be, along with the topics that they will discuss, will be available nearer the date.
How can you help?
The more you write, blog, post, tweet and, in general, share the details of International Helmet Awareness Day with equestrians in the build-up to the event, the more people will have an opportunity to get educated on the benefits of wearing a helmet. Your sharing information on the event with others might just save a life. We will be happy to help coordinate expert interviews for your publication.
Logos, photographs and quotes for Riders4Helmets International Helmet Awareness Day 2013 may be obtained by emailing chad@riders4helmets.com.
How will equestrians know which retailers are participating?
From May 25, 2013 a list of global participating retailers will be available to equestrians exclusively at www.Riders4Helmets.com/ihad. Equestrians are encouraged to visit the main Riders4Helmets website on a regular basis for updates with regard to the event.
Advertising/Sponsorship
For advertising and sponsorship opportunities related to International Helmet Awareness Day 2013, please email chad@riders4helmets.com. Examples of opportunities include banner advertising on the Riders4Helmets website and company/product logo on print literature to be distributed to equestrians clubs/organizations (no logos will be placed on retailer literature unless non-conflicting). Riders4Helmets is entirely self-funded and any support is greatly appreciated to allow the campaign to continue to host Safety Symposia and grow globally.
How can equestrians get involved?
If a club or organization is interested in hosting their own event to celebrate the day, they may email admin@riders4helmets.com. We can send interested parties a list of literature and promotional materials (such as education CDs). We will be happy to help promote any event by posting details of it on Riders4Helmets.com and on our Facebook and Twitter pages. Equestrians are encouraged to take lots of photos of their event and write up a short description of what they did, and who participated. This will then be included as a feature article on the Riders4Helmets campaign website.
Who is behind the campaign?
The campaign is operated by Lyndsey White and Chad Mendell. Riders4Helmets also welcomed Carmen ter Rahe to the team in May 2013 as the Riders4Helmets representative in Australia.
About Riders4Helmets
Riders4Helmets was founded in early 2010 after Olympic dressage rider Courtney King-Dye was seriously injured in a riding accident. King-Dye, who remained in a coma for a month following her accident, was not wearing a helmet at the time of the accident and continues to undergo rehabilitation. The goal of the Riders4Helmets Campaign is to educate equestrians on the benefits of wearing a properly fitted and secured, certified helmet. For more information on the Riders4Helmets campaign, visit Riders4Helmets.com. You can also follow the campaign at www.facebook.com/riders4helmets and http://twitter.com/riders4helmets.
Media Contact
Chad Mendell
chad@riders4helmets.com