My name is Chloe and I was born on the 14th December 2003 of Maltese and Poodle parents.I was the smallest in my family and was always picked on by my brothers and sisters. Two months after I was born I was sent to a pet shop so someone could buy me. A lovely lady named Sue came to the shop and instantly fell in love with me and so Sue and her husband Ken adopted me and became my new mummy and daddy. Mummy named me Chloe and I also got new 2 legged sisters, Bindi, Kylee and Heidi to love.
What I did not know at the time is that Sue was developing an awful illness call early onset dementia and Ken was very happy that Sue now had her own little pal to love and spend time with as she slowly forgot all the things that she once knew. Sue and I would spend the day playing and then walking with ken in the afternoons. I had lots of fun and loved my mummy and daddy.
One day mummy got very sick with her dementia and she had to leave home and go to hospital. Ken was very sad and told me that mummy would not be able to come home again to be with them. Ken would take me to the hospital each day to see mummy. I got to know lots of other people in the hospital that were sick like mummy, except they were all a lot older. Each day I would spend time with my new friends and then come and sit with daddy and mummy until it was time to go home.
One very sad day, Ken told me mummy Sue had died. She was a beautiful kind lady only 55 years old that had brought joy and love to everyone who she had met. Daddy Ken, my sisters and I have missed her so much.
When Ken was young he rode a motorbike and Sue would ride with him. After they got married and had a family, Ken and Sue stopped riding but always said that when they got old they would travel Australia on a motorbike.
After mummy Sue died, Ken was very sad but my sisters and I kept him from being lonely. Daddy and I live in a nice house together and spent lots of time playing and walking and going places.
One day daddy came home with a big new motorbike and said he was going to keep to his dream of riding Australia. Each Sunday he would go for rides but said he always missed me not being with him. Daddy is very smart so he made me a special seat for the back of our bike. It has a seat-belt so I am safe if we go fast and I am protected from the wind, although I like it when my ears flap.
My daddy and I have now traveled over 190000 kilometres together to lots of places in Australia living the dream. Sometimes we ride alone and sometimes with our friends from the Ulysses club, a group of nice people over the age of 40 who also love to ride motorbikes.
On our rides lots of nice people have asked how they can help people with dementia like my mummy had, and I got the idea to start a little charity called ‘I Ride With Chloe to Fight Dementia’. Daddy has had some nice badges and patches made up for me to sell because us bikers like badges and patches to pin and sew on our jackets and all the money I raise will go to help Alzheimer’s Australia WA continue their important work.
It would be very nice if you would buy a badge or even donate a gold coin for a Chloe sticker and join me as I ride to fight dementia with daddy Ken.
I hope I meet you again someday when I am on another ride with Ken. Make sure you say hello and always be happy and have a big smile and thank you for your donation to the Fight Alzheimer’s appeal to help other people who get sick like my mummy.
I met Chloe and Ken at the Launceston 2016 Ulysses AGM. I fell in love with Chloe as I am sure most people do. I now have a beautiful patch to sow on my jacket. I cry every time I read the story of Chloe, Ken and Sue and their family, and I hope others will donate to this cause, so that research can be done to fight this terrible disease. I hope I meet Chloe and Ken again as they travel Australia raising funds for iridewithchloe.com.
Thankyou very much for your kind words Pamela. I been have been having so much fun riding around Tazzi with Daddy Ken I have not had time for my blog. It is also hard for using the not book computer. I will get daddy to help me put all my photos together soon.
Big lick from you furry friend,
Chloe
I met Chloe today in York Western Aust (my home town). Am a massive dog lover (have 3 Kelpies & 2 Chi’s) & was wonderful to meet little Chloe & her owner. Am in awe of all the travelling they both have done… i am now off to make a donation. xx
Dear Cloe, as you know I am the friend who rides many a mile (sorry kilometre) with your dad. I am so pleased to have met you and am always amazed at how you remember to advise your dad as to where the next corner is and town as to how to get there. I guess it is a secret code you have developed over the many years of riding from behind as passenger. I must say you sure have a way with the ladies ’cause that lick of a kiss seems to knock ’em for a six. Keep up the good work, your friend who rides with dad and would be lost without you help, Lionel
Thank you uncle Lionel, we always have so much fun together.
I met Chloe and Ken today driving through Donnybrook and Chloe is adorable. Ken is a truly sincere human and this fundraising is a beautiful cause, absolute blessing to bump into them and have a chat.
Thank you Kayla, it was nice meeting you and your little dog. Sorry to be a bit grumpy at the start.
I met Chloe and Ken yesterday, Chloe is the most gorgeous little girl. Your story is both beautiful and sad, my grandfather had Alzheimers and it’s so hard to watch someone forget everything. Wishing you both all the very best in your continued adventures.
Hi Chloe!
I’m sure my puppy Suzi would have loved to have me you and Ken.
She loved riding with me as well, and he favourite trip was around the Gaspe Peninsula of Quebec Canada. All that lovely sea air and dead crab to roll in!
I used to work in a nursing home, so I am very much able to sympathize with Sue’s fight with dementia.
Sadly Suzi passed away last year and I lost my best riding and camping buddy ever, but seeing pictures like those of you riding with Ken bring back some great memories and I wish you well in your travels and to raise awareness of dementia.
Cheers from the top side of the globe!
Ron
rottenronnie.ca
We met Chloe today at Loxton Motorcycle Centre.
Unfortunately we had no motorcycle jacket small enough to fit her but she looked pretty cosy and fashionable in the warm coat that she was wearing!
It was lovely to meet Chloe and Ken who are in the Riverland and staying at the Barmera Field Day site for the Ulysses AGM.
Hi and thank you Janet and Quincy, my daddy says you are fantastic. The new chain got us all the way to Oodnadatta and home. A1 service. I will send you a photo when daddy gets all the pics edited.
A big lick from your furry friend xx
I just met Ken and Chloe at Burra SA while travelling. We had stopped to have lunch at the bakery and I spent the whole time cuddling this precious little gem… we chatted to Ken about travelling and bikes and he handed me an iridewithchloe sticker as we parted ways. It wasn’t until I got back in the car and read her blog that I got the backstory. I am absolutely sobbing. I am so sorry for your loss Ken. But I am so glad you have your wife’s heart with you wherever you are in little Chloe. Much love xx Tarn
It was really nice to meet and talk to you in Burra. We got to Merna Mora Station that night and had a nice camping night with nice people we met. We got all the way to Oodnadatta before coming home.
Ken is a GENT … Unfortunately Chloe wasn’t with him on his most recent trip to the Emerald Isle : (
Hi Paul, Daddy told me all about Michelle and yourself and said you are a lovely couple. I think he wants to have an address an address to stay if he ever gets to Canada.
Big lick
Chloe
We had the pleasure of meeting Chloe, Ken and friends while in Bakers Hill, WA on Sunday. We were lucky enough for the group to support our local netball association with the raffle tickets the children were selling.
Ken, we didn’t realise that you too were raising money for a great cause. You generously gave stickers to the girls, and they are taking your story to school to raise awareness. Wishing you all the best for each of your journeys. Chloe sure won the hearts of our children.
Thank you Tracey, I hope the girls money raising went well. My daddy told me mummy loved playing netball when she was young and he used to go and watch her. (He liked to look at her nice legs, I think).
Say thanks to the girls for spreading the awareness, it is so important for dementia to be understood.
Big lick, Chloe
It was our pleasure meet and ride alongside Chloe and Ken at the Vagabond event in Cottesloe last night. Your story, passion and true love are tonics for people’s souls. I work in the disability and ageing sector and know just how much dementia can impact a family – my grandmother had dementia for many years.
We will continue to look out for those cute little flapping ears and little button nose on our travels. Maybe we will see you on a Ulyses meet too some day.!
Tara and Paul
Hi Tara and Paul, it was very nice to meet you both at the big biker gathering. Wasn’t Glen a very nice man? I have forgotten the photographers name unfortunately but he was nice too. Daddy wants to buy a drone so we can do films on our trips but he would probably crash it.
Daddy and I would love to say “Hi” again so I will look out for you around the cafes.
Big Lick , Chloe
Hi chloe and ken
We met you for the first time coming out of the dome cafe in Currambine. We of course fell in love with how cute you were.
My husband who was riding is mobile scooter, which Bella our Maltese who loves to sit by his feet when he goes out with her.
Bella is my husbands companion he was diagnosed with Parkinson Alzamier 2017.
It was wonderful to meet you both and to learn you are helping people like ourselves.
Thank you for those nice words Carole, daddy and I love to meet nice people (and doggies of course). We wish you and your husband all the best in the future ahead. If you go to our Who Are You site you may like to download and rear our little book of daddy’s poems that I narrate.
Sad to hear of Chloe’s passing Ken, it was a pleasure to meet you both at numerous FarRider meets .
RIP Chloe.
Regards Gus
Thanks Gus, We were planning to do the next Far Ride. Be a bit funny on my own.