Riders gather at Clatterbridge Hospital after the Wirral Egg Run

Despite the hard-knock, hard-living image that many people have of bikers, anyone who knows them knows that they are, at heart, a great bunch of people. There is a camaraderie, a good humour and a positive attitude to life that all bikers share, and that’s what draws many people to join ride outs and biker groups. And nowhere is that spirit more clearly shown than in biker charity events, such as the annual Wirral Egg Run.

Now, there are lots of ways of raising money. You can flog your old gear on eBay. You can claim one of the many online casino bonuses and spin the wheel of fortune. Or you can sign away your life with a loan. But few money-making ideas are quite as spectacular, as roaringly loud, or as perennially popular as the famous Wirral Egg Run, completed by thousands upon thousands of bikers every spring.

A proud history

The Wirral Egg Run started small, with just twenty bikers from the Empress Motorcycle Club riding from New Brighton, on the Wirral, to the local hospital at Arrowe Park. Each rider and their pillion took an Easter Egg for the children who were in hospital over the Easter weekend. It might not have seemed much at the time, but it was the start of a great tradition. 

The following year, the run grew to 50 bikers, and by 1986 there were over 250 bikes roaring from the coast to the hospital, bringing over 400 Easter eggs. The ride out continued to grow, and by 1994 organisers counted 1500 bikes, prompting national coverage in the press and biker magazines. This boosted numbers even further, and by 1996, no less than 4000 bikes, trikes and scooters were making the run, and the venue soon had to be changed to Clatterbridge Hospital as the bikes were getting in the way of Arrowe Park’s A&E services. 

The run reached its peak in 2000, with police estimating between 8000 and 15000 bikes taking part, delivering over 20,000 Easter eggs and raising around £6,500. Unfortunately, this level of involvement brought with it costs and complications, with a huge logistical challenge for all involved, including policing, road closures and more. It also meant that the group had to become a registered charity in 2008. 

The end, but not the end

After 32 amazing years, the Wirral Egg Run officially ended in 2013, due to escalating costs of around £15,000 per year and a lack of sponsorship to cover them. With the charity wound up and the organising committee disbanded, it seemed that this brilliant bit of biking charity work was at an end. But if you know anything about bikers, then you’ll know that they never say die.

Despite the original organisers asking people to ‘refrain from organising their own version’, the Wirral Egg Run lives on. Since the official disbandment of the event, a ‘Wirral Egg Run Tribute Ride Out’ has taken place every year, growing to almost 7000 riders at this year’s event, and raising thousands more in cash for local children’s charities. The event has even gained support from the police and permission from the local council to have street collectors on site at the meet up point and key viewing points along the route. 

The Wirral Egg Run Tribute Rideout Facebook group has almost 6,000 members. Between them, the unofficial event has raised over £10,000 since the formal version was cancelled. And official or not, the ride out continues to go from strength to strength every year, with thousands more bikes and bikers of all shapes and sizes expected to gather on King’s Parade next April for the 2020 event.

With tens of thousands of pounds raised, and hundreds of thousands of Easter eggs collected, the Wirral biking fraternity are proving what a great bunch of people bikers can be. You can join them on their Facebook page for all the latest news, or better still, why not take a ride up to the Wirral next spring and join the party? Just don’t forget your Easter egg!