Jim’s Legacy
Jim was my hero. He was also my best friend, and trusted ally, as well my husband. You may know of his feats on the track, few know of his battle with illness. Even less truly know how he suffered.
I’ve described it as watching your favourite jumper slowly but surely unravelling. No matter how hard I tried I couldn’t stop it. It didn’t matter what I did, he slowly slipped out of my grasp. But he was a warrior, both off and on the sporting arenas. He fought hard in business. He fought hard for his friendships. He fought for what he believed in was right.
Jim Budd suffered a rare bone marrow disorder, Light Chain Disease, of which there is little known. As a consequence he suffered 4 debilertating strokes, chronic kidney disease, and received a kidney transplant. He participated in a drug trial also, hoping to assist the medical profession learn more from him to help others. He wasn’t giving up on his own fight, he just saw an opportunity to help the cause. So he took it. He didn’t want other people to suffer what he was going through. I’m glad he did. This is his ultimate legacy.
Strokes – Think Fast
A stroke is one of three conditions including heart and blood vessel disease that are known collectively as cardiovascular disease. Australia’s biggest killer accounting for 34% of all deaths. Approx. 25% of the Australian population live with three or more CVD risk factors that include, among others, high blood pressure, age, cholesterol levels, smoking habits, family history, diabetes, kidney disease and an irregular heart beat.
I learnt that if you think someone is having a stroke, ask them to stick out their tongue. Don’t delay in seeking medical assistance.
Need to know more? visit www.strokefoundation.com.au or ring Strokeline 1800 787 653
Clever Kidneys and CKD
Kidneys remove waste and fluid from the body, help to control blood pressure, aid with the production of red blood cells, and assist to keep bones strong. How’s that for multi-tasking?
Did you know that 1 in 3 adults are at increased risk fo developing Chronic Kidney Disease? Or 1 in 7 adults have some sign of CKD? CKD is a silent condition with symptoms often not appearing until 90% of kidney function has been lost. CKD is preventable, but it’s on the rise due to smoking, obesity, lifestyle choices resulting in type 2 diabetes, and of course our ageing population. Treatment is severe in final stages – dialysis or transplant. You have choices. Jim didn’t.
Need to know more? visit http://www.kidney.org.au or ask your GP
Donate Life – the facts about organ donation
When someone dies in a situation where they can become an organ donor, the intensive car medical team raises the possibility of donation with the family. The Australian Organ Donor Register is checked (and yes, I’m on there). A donor co-ordinator will meet the family to talk about donation. The family is given time to make a decision. There is consentual paperwork to sign by the family before retrieval can happen. After the donations, the co-ordinator keeps in touch with the family to tell them about the success of the transplants and to provide support for them during their time of grief. I wrote an anonymous thank you letter to the family who donated my husband’s kidney expressing my/our appreciation.
Decide to become a donor
The Australian Organ Donor Register is the official national register for organ and tissue donation. When you decide to become a donor, go to the register at either www.medicare.gov.au or www.donorregister.gov.au.
Discuss your decision with your family
It is important to talk with your family about your decision to donation owing to the sensitivity of the matter and donation can only proceed with their consent – regardless of whether you are registered. It is importaqnt to discuss your decision with your family and they understand your wishes. It is your legacy. It changes lives! I know for a fact.
Jim Budd Motorcycle Racer 
I met Jim again after many years at the official launch of the Bathurst Easter Carnival in 1999. I was horrified to see how wasted and gaunt he was, just a shadow of the supremely fit athlete that I remembered from Six Hour days. RIP, Jim, you were one of the greats.
We originally met at Lakeside early 1977 when I was just out of school. He told Terry upon asking who I was “Tell her to grow up and I will come back and take her out”. Terry laughed and said “Don’t think so”. Wrong! JB and I met in pitlane at 1987 Bathurst races for the last time. We started dating 3 weeks later. 2 weeks, 3 dates and he proposed. We were never really apart in all the years that we were together. His body faded, but he was still the Champion that he always was on the inside right to the very end. He never stopped trying. Even in the early days of treatment he participated in drug trials, because he didn’t want others to suffer what he had gone through. On check ups with the specialist he used enquire about his lap-records, not his medical/blood results. On the day he passed he hung on until I could get to the hospital for us to say our goodbyes. He died in my arms. 28.07.01. Almost 9 years ago. I still miss him greatly.
I would like to know more information regarding this website
Jude, contact me for more information.
I was a fan of Jims for many years & seen him around the Central coast many times.
When I started racing I copied everything he did. Later we became good friends, & was my mentor, If Jim said do it this way I would not question him & I’d just did what he said. It always worked.
He was becomming ill & you could see him starting to fade. But his spirit never faded. He had first of his many strokes, my wife, Elayne & I rushed down to Concord Hospital to see him. What a shock, he was chipper as always but he couldnt speak. After many weeks we picked him up & took him home, by now he had regained some speech & was going well. I had a racing crash & didnt compete anymore, & drifted away from my friend, but we would cross paths from time to time, & it was like we had only been talking last week.
I hated seeing this man that was my hero just getting weaker & weaker. But again he didnt give in. I miss him more than ever now. But will never forget the word of this man they all called Buddy.. RIP
He lives on in our memories, and hearts Steve. He had great respect for you too.
yes very sad a waste