Bike4Life raises £87,000 for Midlands Air Ambulance
More than £87,000 was raised for Midlands Air Ambulance during the weekend's Bike4Life Ride Out and Festival.
More than 5,000 bikers took part in the eighth annual ride out and festival on Sunday. They travelled the 23-mile route from Meole Brace in Shrewsbury to RAF Cosford.
Superbike champion and racing legend Carl Fogarty, motorcycle and truck racing legend Steve Parrish and former England rugby captain and 2003 World Cup winner Mike Tindall MBE all led the ride out which concluded at RAF Cosford for the Bike4Life Festival.
The event helped to raise £87,770 for the Midlands Air Ambulance Charity, which will fund 35 future life-saving air ambulance missions.
The total is nearly £10,000 more than last year, and nearly £3,000 more than this year’s target of £85,000.
Jason Levy, fundraising and marketing director for Midlands Air Ambulance Charity, said: “This amazing event is now in its eighth year, and continues to grow. It is a testament to the fantastic work our staff and volunteers and the incredible support and generosity of the biker community.
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“Sadly, Midlands Air Ambulance Charity airlifts on average one biker every four days, so through the money we raise at Bike4Life every year, we can ensure we continue to provide the life-saving care for years to come.”
The festival, which was expected to attract about 12,000 people across the day, included a host of entertainment for bikers and visitors, including music performances from Epic Volume, 4th Labyrinth, Searching Grey and headline band Redline. Jamie Squibb and his team from Nitro Circus also presented a freestyle motocross display. There were 20 food vendors and a variety of biker merchandise stands on the day.
The aircrew from Midlands Air Ambulance provided simulation displays demonstrating the skills that come into play at the scene of a motorcycle crash and the vital role the charity plays in saving lives every day.
The Bike4Life Ride Out and Festival, which took a year of planning, is held in partnership with the Road Safety Partnership, to raise awareness of biker safety on the road.
Support was also offered by Highways England, West Mercia Police, Shropshire Council, RAF Cosford and a variety of biking groups. Jason added: “We would also like to thank other local residents and road users for their patience and understanding during the Ride Out procession.”
The event began eight years ago with just 200 riders, and has grown year on year. Large crowds flocked to bridges over the M54 to watch the spectacle of the Ride Out.
