December is a wonderful time, not only because it’s associated with one of the most amazing holidays in the year, but also because it’s a time during which we are willing to open our hearts to the needs of others and we are eager to help the ones who have found themselves in difficult life situations. Last year I had a chance to write about a charity event ‘Belly Santa Claus’, which despite not having a big response yet, is a kind of a good cause which moves our hearts. A few weeks ago, I came across an article whose main character was a beautiful girl who comes from my hometown Jaworzno. Natalia Gromala has become one of the faces of Silesian Motorcyclists’ Calendar 2020. The whole income from selling this calendar will be given to a chosen charitable purpose. Every year this event is getting more and more popular and it is attracting more and more lovers of fast machines, which in this case means motorcycles. In today’s interview you’ll get to know more about the beginnings of this charity event, how the process of creating the calendar looked like and about our interviewee’s plans for the future.

Passion Piece: Could you tell my readers a few words about yourself?

Natalia: My name’s Natalia and I’m 23 years old. I’m a mom, wife, passionate motorcyclist, veterinary technician and in a few months’ time also an OSH technician. I’ve got lots of different passions and interests, however at the time being, I devote most of my time to my family and motorcycles

Passion Piece: The citizens of Jaworzno have recently had the occasion to get to know you a little bit better, thanks to quite an unusual charity event you decided to take part in. Where did the idea of participating in the Silesian Motorcyclists’ Calendar come from?

Natalia: The authors of this idea, which has been a great success for many years, are Motorcyclists from flesh and blood, women living in the Silesian Voivodeship, who decided to combine their passions with their willingness to help other people. I’m really happy that I found myself in this circle. The most beautiful aspect of this event is that we take part in it with no expectations, selflessly. We, the Motorcyclists, who are present in the photos, photographers, cameramen, make-up artists, make-up experts and all the technical support, we all do it without being paid for our work. We just want to help others.

Passion Piece: What’s the main purpose of this initiative? What were its beginnings?

Natalia: Of course, the main goal of this initiative is to help other people. Through selling the calendar for a symbolic donation we create a collection to help the ones in need. The Association of Silesian Motorcyclists decided to help women and children. At the very beginning girls created the calendar for themselves. They did it for fun. They took photos, put on some make-up and created the whole backstage on their own. Later on they came to a conclusion that it would be great to combine their passion with doing something good.

This year’s edition of Silesian Motorcyclists’ Calendar is already the fourth one. Every year a different cause is chosen, the one which the money is collected for – income from the first edition was devoted to the youngest patients of the Neonatal Ward in the Municipal Hospital in Sosnowiec. The second edition founded the account of the Municipal Hospital in Tychy to help women suffering from cancer. In the third edition help was provided to the House of Limp-legged Angels in Piasek near Pszczyna. The previous three editions allowed the association to collect over 85 000 zl, which was fully given to charity. The income from this year’s edition will be given to the Gynecology and Maternity Ward in the Regional Hospital in Tychy. The premiere of the Calendar took place in Andromeda in Tychy. All the guests had the opportunity to buy there a calendar, as well as to take part in the auction of each page of the earlier mentioned calendar in large format. The fourth edition is going to be the best one of all when it comes to the number of copies sold. We’re waiting for the reprint, as the first series was sold like hot cakes.

Passion Piece: You don’t deal with modeling professionally. How did you do during this photo session? What was the most difficult for you?

Natalia: None of us is a model. We’re different and definitely without perfect bodies. We’re women aged between 20 and 60 years old. The passion for motorcycles and good hearts open to other people are the things which truly connect us. The crew is created by wonderful people, who don’t let anyone to feel worse or look worse. Each frame was polished, we felt really special. I think the most difficult aspect of this photo session was simply presenting myself to others, but I think I dealt with this task really well.

Passion Piece: Fast machines and wind in one’s hair, that’s what I’ve always associated with tattooed men with bandannas on their heads. You are a complete opposite to this idea. How did your adventure with motorcycles start?

Natalia: There has always been motorization in my life. There were quads. There were motorcycles. I wasn’t a girl who would play with dolls, I preferred being in a garage and using a screwdriver.

My adventure with motorcycles started just like in best romance films from … love. I met my husband exactly five years ago while riding a motorcycle. I started riding as a so called backpack snuggling up at the back seat to my (now) husband. Finally, there was a time I wanted to have my own motorcycle. Now we’re both motorcyclists, most of the times we ride our machines together or with our friends. Then I really felt that it’s a thing which gives me joy and it’s also a way to escape from reality for a while. Doing something what you like with a person who you love is a combination which everyone wants to have in a good relationship and marriage. On our wedding day the motorcycles also played a great role. The motorcyclists walked us down the aisle and the wedding hall. My son has also caught a bug, he loves going to the garage and sitting on the motorcycles.

More and more often you can notice girls’ plaits under the helmets, and the motorcycles are no longer only for men. Women can also ride them and they do it really well.

Passion Piece: You’re now a mom and a wife. Has it influenced the way you behave on the road? What kind of situations do you try to avoid in order to come back to your family safe and sound?

Natalia: I always try to be careful and alert on the road. The fact that my wonderful son and my one of a kind husband are waiting for me at home makes me even more watchful, because I know that someone is waiting for me and someone needs me. However, you cannot predict all the situations on the road, or in the car, or while going for a walk. I try to avoid risky and dangerous maneuvers. Each year car drives are getting more and more aware of the fact that there are more and more motorcyclists on the roads and that they need to look into their wing mirrors, as in a second a motorcycle can appear in them. That’s where a famous slogan ‘Look into your wing mirrors, motorcycles are everywhere’ comes from.

Passion Piece: Besides motorization, you’re also aiming to do a job, which you really like. Veterinary demands a great expertise, as well as sensitivity to the suffering of the most vulnerable ones. Does this feature of your character make you help others so willingly?

Natalia: I always aim to fulfill myself in the fields I feel good at. As a child I loved riding horses, my dad enrolled me to a lesson and this adventure lasted 14 years. Later on I focused on studying and getting a degree as a veterinary technician. I worked in the veterinarian’s office and on the farm with dairy cows. It was a great experience. In the future I’d love to become a vet, have my own office, as well as a place in which I could do dog grooming, so that I could not only take care of animals’ health, but also the way they look. I am sensitive to suffering, that’s why if I can do anything related to improving a bad situation I do it with pleasure. I love working with animals, they cannot say that something is wrong, we need to give them a chance and simply understand them well.

Passion Piece: Do you have any other passions besides motorcycles? What brings you most joy?

Natalia: At the time being I try to focus only on my family, as well as on spending time with my son, who I devote most energy to. I love traveling and discovering new places, which are certainly worth visiting.

Passion Piece: Where do you see yourself in the nearest future? Are you going to engage yourself in some new charity events? Maybe you’ve already found something for yourself?

Natalia: Yes, I’d love to take part in some charity events, and I hope that you’ll also see my face in the next edition of Silesian Motorcyclists’ Calendar and that next year the calendar will be even more successful. Day by day, new ideas come to my mind. As it’s good to help others not only once a year, but during the whole year too.

Passion Piece: Which motto would you like to share with my readers?

Natalia: I’d like to quote the words of the Association of Silesian Motorcyclists: ‘If thanks to our actions a smile appears on the face of one person, if someone’s heart frees itself from sorrows, and if fewer tears appear in someone’s eyes – then the goal will be reached.’

Passion Piece: Thank you very much for this inspiring conversation. I hope that in the upcoming year you’ll be able to make all your dreams come true, the ones related to your professional work, as well as helping others.

If you don’t have the idea for the ideal Christmas gift yet, and you’d like to help the ones in need … I think that this interview will make it easier for you to choose well. And you? What kind of charity event do you support the most willingly?

See you around!

Yours,

Passion Piece