Bikers riding with respect
Motorcyclists and bikes of all shapes and sizes passed through on Sunday morning, one of 16 nationwide Ride of Respect events.
With 365 vehicles in total all leaving in convoy from the Rangiora RSA it made spectacular, albeit noisy, entertainment for anyone within 1km of the town centre.
Event coordinator of the Christchurch Ride of Respect Sam Rowntree, of the hosting Widows Sons Club, said the ride originated in the UK eight years ago, established by biking grandmother Julia Stevenson from Dartford in Kent.
‘‘About 22,000 bikes turned up for that first event, so it was a bit of a shock,’’ Rowntree said.
‘‘It’s gone from strength to strength since then, and the organisers decided to go international four years ago.’’
In the first year the ride was held on the same day in all participating countries, however the following year it was decided to move it to a date which meant more for New Zealand and so the Sunday before Anzac Day was chosen.
Each event raises money for armed forces personnel, and of the total $5,496 raised through the local ride on Sunday, almost $4,500 will be donated to a drop-in centre at Burnham. The centre offers support amd help for exmembers of the forces struggling with psychological issues relating to their service.
A further $1000, a percentage of funds raised from the sale of badges, will go towards a nationally focused RSA charity event.
The bikes left in perfect conditions from the Papanui RSA, arriving in Rangiora where they regrouped and spent some money at the bar before setting off for the Oxford Workingmen’s Club, finishing up at the Templeton RSA.
Rowntree said the event provided good support for all the clubs along the way, as well as for other community causes.
Oxford Area School ran a sausage sizzle, raising about $1,500 for local emergency services, he said, while the district’s freemasons stepped in to help with coordination on the day.
He anticipated once the final figures from the weekend had been tallied that the amount raised for RSAs across New Zealand over the four years would be in excess of $100,000.