Category: Charity

1. Carl Fogarty and Richard Hammond lead ride out raising £45,000 for charity

   Posted on 9:00am Thursday 30th Apr 2015

   Bikers from across the country turned out in their thousands at the weekend, as they took part in one of the largest biking events in the country – the Bike4Life Ride Out and Festival (26 April 2015), raising money for Midlands Air Ambulance Charity.

   In excess of 5,000 motorcyclists participated in the 23 mile ride, along the A5/ M54 from Meole Brace, Shrewsbury to the RAF Museum Cosford, home of the Bike4Life Festival. They filled the motorway as far as the eye could see, travelling en masse by police escort to the Museum.

   It took 40 minutes for participants in the Ride Out to filter out of Shrewsbury and before the last few bikers had departed, the front riders had arrived at the Festival, filling the 23 mile route from start to finish.

   Leading the 5,000 strong Ride Out this year was seven times World Superbike Champion and current ‘King of the Jungle’ Carl Fogarty, joined by TV Presenter Richard Hammond and Bike4Life competition winner Trev Tawn from Broseley, Shropshire. The lucky winner got to meet his idols and pose for photos before joining them at the front of Ride Out, along with TV’s Emergency Bikers Mark Hayes and Steve Forrest.   

   Support for the event has grown each year, not just with the biking community, but with families and local residents alike. Thousands of members of the public lined the roads and every bridge along the route, waving as the bikers passed.

   The event raised in excess of £45,000 thanks to the phenomenal turnout and support shown by the biking community, smashing last year’s total by 50 per cent. The day was a huge success, with more bikers taking part in this year’s ride out than ever before, with many bikers travelling some distance to be part of the day. In addition to the 5,000 bikers on the Ride Out, over 4,000 bikers and families headed straight to the Festival, with over 9,000 visitors on site throughout the day.

   Upon arrival at the Museum, bikers were treated to an afternoon packed with entertainment which included a spectacular flypast from the Battle of Britain Memorial Flight Spitfire and live music supplied by five rock bands on the Planet Rock stage.

   Abi Betteridge, Museum Events Manager for the RAF Museum Cosford said:

   “We were staggered with the number of bikers wanting to take part in the Ride Out this year - I’ve never seen so many bikes in one place! Looking back at the photos and videos posted online of the Ride Out shows just how big the event has become. It was fantastic to welcome so many bikers and families alike to the Museum and to see them enjoying the Festival atmosphere and everything the day had to offer. This event has been months in the planning and the staff and volunteers organising the event have worked hard to make Bike4Life 2015 the best yet.”

   Two Midlands Air Ambulance helicopters were situated at the event and visitors were able to view on board as well as meet the aircrew. Fogarty took some time during his day to tour the helicopter and speak with the aircrew about their roles. Both helicopters were called out during the day, demonstrating the great need to continue to raise funds for the lifesaving service.

   Jason Levy, Fundraising and Marketing Director for Midlands Air Ambulance Charity said:

   “What an incredible day! We are blessed with immense support from the biking community and the number of motorcyclists and local people who joined us on the day was terrific. Each Midlands Air Ambulance mission costs £2,500, so the £45,000 raised will go towards 18 further life saving missions. Everyone who attended the Ride Out and Festival should be extremely proud of what they’ve helped us achieve, and we couldn’t be more grateful for their commitment to the charity.”
   
   

   Bike4Life is also in collaboration with Safer Roads Partnership and West Mercia Police who work tirelessly to promote road safety and to help reduce the number of road traffic collisions across West Mercia. The event took months of planning and wouldn’t have been possible without the support of the Central Motorway Police Group, the Highways Agency, West Mercia Police and Shropshire County Council, who ensured the safety of all of the bikers on the Ride Out. Organisers would also like to thank other road users for their patience and understanding during the Ride Out procession.

   Vicki Bristow, Communications Manager, Safer Roads Partnership said:

   “It's been great to be involved in such a worthwhile event and being able to engage with so many bikers not just across our region but from elsewhere. Helping to keep bikers as safe as possible whilst on the roads is one area we work really hard on and it was great to talk to so many bikers about the training opportunities that are available to them as well as talking about work we are doing on educating other road users about the importance of sharing our roads with bikers. The feedback we've had from the event has been fantastic and we can't wait to get involved again in 2016."

   Find out more information about the Midlands Air Ambulance Charity by visiting www.midlandsairambulance.com or for more information on the RAF Museum Cosford visit www.rafmuseum.org.
   
   Further details about the Safer Roads Partnership can be found at www.srpwestmercia.org.uk
   
   

   www.bike4lifefest.com

   

2. Soldiering On Through Life Trust - The raffle winners are...

   Posted on 9:00am Wednesday 22nd Apr 2015

   Thank you to everyone who supported Soldiering On Through Life Trust by buying raffle tickets!

   The draw took place on Saturday 18th April at the Awards Ceremony and Gala Dinner. Singer and songwriter Antony Costa drew the winners and the winning tickets are now available on the website. 

   Everyone who has won will be contacted over the next few days to confirm addresses for posting or arrangements for delivery of larger prizes.

   Congratulations to all the lucky winners!

   www.soldieringon.org/raffle-winners/

   
   
   
   

   THE BIKER GUIDE is an official media partner for Soldiering On Through Life Trust, to help raise awareness of the organisation to the Motorcycle community.

   In its partnership role, THE BIKER GUIDE has supported the media needs of the charity, to the Motorcycle community, as well as promoting this fantastic raffle, where the 1st prize was a Triumph Bonneville.

3. Entries now open for the fourth Henry Surtees Foundation Brooklands Team Karting Challenge‏

   Posted on 12:00pm Thursday 9th Apr 2015

   Team entries are now open for the fourth annual Henry Surtees Foundation Brooklands Team Karting Challenge which will take place on Tuesday 30 June 2015. The event organised by John Surtees OBE, in co-operation with Brooklands Museum and Mercedes-Benz World will be staged once again at the iconic Mercedes-Benz World, Surrey and is free to spectate.

   Each year the HSF Team Challenge receives tremendous support from a host of star names from the world of motorsport, business and the entertainment industry and 2015 will be no exception. Last year the event raised over £60,000 for the Henry Surtees Foundation, which was established by John Surtees, following the tragic death of his son Henry.

   John Surtees OBE said “Brooklands not only has a special place in motorsport history but also the Henry Surtees Foundation, as it was one of the first fundraising events organised after the charity was formed. The event has developed over the past 3 years and this year will see the introduction of some exciting format changes. We are now taking entries for teams to participate in the HSF Team Karting Challenge. Why not put a team of four together and come and join us at the original home of motorsport at Brooklands where you will be able to enjoy the superb facilities of Mercedes-Benz World in the company of the Henry Surtees Foundation and star guests”.

   Racing starts with practice and qualifying. Teams will then have the opportunity to compete in a challenging 2 hour endurance race, where competitors battle it out in Daytona High-Performance two-stroke DMAX Birel Karts in the hope of securing the conveted ‘H’ trophy.

   The interval features a spectacular display of Surtees built Formula cars and Brooklands Museum exhibits plus ‘special’ vehicle demonstrations.

   John Surtees continued “This year we have organised several ‘special’ vehicle demonstrations during the racing interval. We are delighted to welcome Derek Bell who will be reunited with the Surtees TS7 that he successfully raced for the team. Plus Team Lotus Works Collection will be bringing the 1965 Tasman Lotus Type 32B that Jim Clark won 9 out of 13 F1 races driving. It will be an honour to commemorate Jim’s 50th anniversary of his second F1 World Championship”.

   The HSF Team Karting Challenge culminates in a prize giving Champagne reception courtesy of G H Mumm in the impressive state-of-the-art Mercedes-Benz World venue where the prestigious 'H' trophy is awarded to the 2015 karting champion.

   The Champagne and canapé reception will be hosted by Steve Rider and feature interviews with racers and celebrity guest participants, plus an incredible fundraising auction hosted by Malcolm Barber of Bonhams featuring exclusive artwork, memorabilia and experiences. Guests will also have the opportunity to explore the fascinating exhibitions and get up close to legendary Mercedes-Benz vehicles. The reception is open to both competitors and non-racers (paid guests).

   G.H. Mumm Champagne will, once again, be poured by generous arrangement with the House and Bernie Ecclestone.

   All proceeds from the event will go to the Henry Surtees Foundation and Brooklands Museum Trust.

   Event Prices:
   Brooklands Team Challenge: Teams are based on four competitors £1,200 per team (including 4 tickets to Champagne and canapé reception)

   The Champagne and canapé reception: Tickets are available to attend the reception, at cost of £65 per person.

   To register your interest in entering a team or booking tickets for the Champagne reception, please contact: [email protected]

    

   

4. Bike4Life Festival line up announced

   Posted on 8:21am Saturday 4th Apr 2015

   Bike4Life organisers have announced an exciting line-up for this year’s Festival taking place on Sunday 26 April.  The much-loved event held at RAF Museum Cosford returns for its 5th year at the end of this month, raising money for Midlands Air Ambulance Charity (MAAC).

   More than 8,000 people attended the event last year, making it one of the biggest and best biker events in the region. This year’s Festival promises to be even bigger with a great number of attractions on offer on the day.

   Bike4Life Fest 2015 promises to be a great day out for bikers and families alike with more than 40 exhibitors signed up to showcase some of the latest motorbikes, including luxury motorbike retailer, Stratstone. Bikers on the lookout for accessories and clothing for the new biking season are sure to find what they are looking for at the Festival with all the latest brands on offer.  Also on board are Halesowen-based company Revs Suspension, so whether you’re revamping an old bike or giving your current bike a bit of TLC, the team will be on hand to offer you advice. 

   Families looking for an entertaining day out are guaranteed to enjoy the family fun lined up. Visitors can take tours of two of the Midlands Air Ambulance Charity’s EC135 air ambulance helicopters and watch energetic performances from extreme mountain biker and British Trials Champion Danny Butler and daring displays from stunt bikers Inch Perfect and Moto Gymkhana. In addition to all of this, youngsters can have a go on the climbing wall, ride on the kiddie quad bikes and have their faces painted. 

   Planet Rock 105.2FM will be showcasing the best in the Midlands’ music talent with Cairo Son, Fireroad, Good Companies, Redline and Skam lined up to rock the Festival. Keeping festival goers fuelled for the day, there will also be a fantastic range of food and drink on offer. 

   Current King of the Jungle and seven times World Superbike champion Carl Fogarty will be taking part in a live Q&A on stage at the event, where visitors will also have the chance to meet and greet the racing champ. Carl will also be leading the much-anticipated 23-mile Ride Out from Meole Brace, Shrewsbury to the event’s home in Cosford.

   Jason Levy, fundraising and marketing director for Midlands Air Ambulance Charity, said “It’s the final countdown to this year’s event and registrations have already gone through the roof. Over 3,000 bikers will ride out with Carl and thousands more are expected to come along to RAF Museum Cosford to see all that Bike4Life Fest has to offer.” 

   Abi Betteridge, public events manager at RAF Museum Cosford, said “You don’t have to be a biker to enjoy Bike4Life 2015, there’s plenty to see and do for festival goers of all ages. In addition to the Spitfire flypast, live music, arena displays and family entertainment, visitors will also have access to the RAF Museum Cosford, with over 70 historic aircraft on display. We look forward to welcoming new and familiar faces to the museum on 26th April.”

   The event, which is partnered with RAF Museum Cosford and the Safer Roads Partnership, aims to raise awareness of biker safety.

   Any bikers wishing to take part in the Bike4Life Ride Out must register in advance through the Bike4Life website www.bike4lifefest.com as spaces are limited (£5 per bike). Any biking enthusiasts, fans of Carl Fogarty and live music lovers are welcome to head straight to the Festival at RAF Museum Cosford.  Entry to the Festival is free of charge with all donations on the day going towards the Midlands Air Ambulance Charity.

5. Bike4Life Organisers Highlight the Importance of Road Safety

   Posted on 4:04pm Friday 27th Mar 2015

   Bikers from Shropshire and the wider Midlands area are invited to start the season off in style on Sunday 26th April 2015 at the Bike4Life Ride Out and Festival.

   Bike4Life Festival is being held at the RAF Museum Cosford in support of the Midlands Air Ambulance charity. The event is being run in collaboration with the Safer Roads Partnership and West Mercia Police and this year is being supported by radio station Planet Rock and is set to be the biggest organised biker gathering in the Midlands this year.

   Biker Safety is one of the main focuses of the day and there will be the opportunity to speak to The Institute of Advanced Motorcyclists (IAM), Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents (RoSPA) and other trainers to find out more about further training and additional courses that are out there to brush up on your biking skills. There is also the opportunity to sign up on the day for a special offer of a Take Control training course – book with a mate and get the course for half price.

   The importance of biker safety is paramount for all partners involved with Bike4Life and the Air Ambulance in particular are fully aware of the role they play in assisting bikers at the most crucial of times.

   Mum of three Charlotte Lloyd suffered serious injuries in a road traffic collision while on a motorbike just under a year ago and, as she continues her recovery, she’s praised the “vital” contribution Midlands Air Ambulance made to ensuring she received urgent medical attention.

   39-year-old Charlotte suffered a broken leg and elbow when she, as a pillion, and her partner, Marc, were involved in the accident in the Midlands in June 2014. She had been preparing to start a new job the following day when the pair set out on their motorbike on a sunny afternoon and travelled down the Pennine Way, B5080 in Tamworth to meet her younger brother. Suddenly, after missing its turning the car travelling in front performed an emergency stop. As the road surface was very badly broken, the wheels of the bike weren’t able to grip. As the bike started to snake badly, Charlotte was thrown into the air before landing in the road.

   The Midlands Air Ambulance helicopter from Tatenhill was dispatched to the scene, with paramedic, Ian Walley, among the aircrew.

   Charlotte recalled, “There was a lot going on at the scene and as well as being in a lot of pain I felt very sick. I remember Ian introducing himself to me. He and the rest of the aircrew played a vital part on the day as they got me to hospital so quickly. They worked really well with the land ambulance and explained everything to me and were really comforting and patient, and warned me it might be a little noisy. I was in so much pain and, up to that point; I wasn’t responding to anything I’d been given to try and make that better.”

   As Charlotte was experiencing such extreme pain, the aircrew were able to administer advance relief at the roadside before she stabilised and airlifted to the Queen Elizabeth Hospital in Birmingham. Now back home, she is slowly recovering from her injuries but admits the incident had a massive impact on her life. She added, “I had never been to hospital before and had to stay for a week, undergoing scans and a session in theatre. I’m still attending physiotherapy appointments there and am awaiting a date for more surgery. Even now I still cannot walk properly or do certain things, and I do find it quite frustrating sometimes.”

   However, she was still determined to meet the aircrew who helped her when she needed it most to offer her appreciation and, after travelling to Tatenhill and spending time with the team.

   Charlotte continued, "I met up with Ian just because I wanted to thank him and what he did and all of the emergency services did for me that day. I had already known that a lot of bikers are airlifted by Midlands Air Ambulance but I can now truly say that they do fantastic work and help save a lot of lives.”

   With hundreds of bikers already signed up, organisers are expecting thousands will show their support on the day and join in the fun, so, if you’re a biker and you’re not already registered for the Ride Out or just want to find out more visit www.bike4lifefest.com or call the Bike4Life Festival team on 01902 376 252. Find us on Facebook by searching for Bike4Life Fest and follow us on Twitter @Bike4LifeFest.

   The festival will run from 10:00am to 4:00pm and visitors of all ages, not just bikers are encouraged to come along. Bikers wishing to participate in the ride out MUST have a full licence as the route to the Museum will travel along the M54 motorway.

   Bikers can find out more information on the Midlands Air Ambulance Charity by visiting www.midlandsairambulance.com or for more information on the RAF Museum Cosford visit www.rafmuseum.org. Further details about the Safer Roads Partnership can be found at www.srpwestmercia.org.uk