Bryan Flemming with daughter Erin, 16, and wife Julie, is amazed at the generosity of BMX world champion Jared Graves.

KEVIN FARMER

MOTOCROSS champion Bryan Flemming was still struggling to find the right words yesterday to describe the generous gesture bestowed upon him on Saturday night.

When Toowoomba’s BMX world champion Jared Graves announced he would donate his $4000 Sports Star of the Year prize money to a charity set up to help Mr Flemming, the crowd of 500 roared in admiration.

But when the news reached Mr Flemming yesterday morning he was stunned into silence.

“Wow — that’s just amazing,” he said.

A champion motocross rider in Toowoomba for decades, Mr Flemming was tragically paralysed in a riding accident on July 19 last year.

During his time in hospital, a group of close friends formed the Bryan Flemming Family Trust to help remodel his home, provide transport and meet medical costs.

It was to this foundation that Mr Graves selflessly donated his prize money at the Sports Darling Downs annual awards presentation.

“I just can’t believe it,” Mr Flemming said.

“Jared is just a good, down-to-earth guy.”

Bryan Flemming Family Trust committee chairman Steve Andrews said the donation was the biggest from a single person so far.

“I’d say it’s an extremely significant donation on Jared’s behalf and it shows you the sort of selfless person that he is,” he said.

The foundation has raised about $70,000.

Mr Flemming said he hoped to one day repay the generosity people like Mr Graves had showed him.

“I guess it shows that if you do the right thing by people, if you strike misfortune later in life people will band behind you,” he said.

“My hope is that somehow, down the track, I can repay these people.”