Brilliant pics from the Bomb Run
Weekend sun shines as bikers raise thousands for war vets
The first decent weekend of the riding season saw riders from all over the South East converge on the tiny village of Coggeshall in Essex to take part in the third annual Bomb Run, a fundraising ride organised by Bikers Respect All Veterans Equally or BRAVE, for short.
More than 150 bikes of all shapes and sizes lined up at the start, with a group of riders as diverse as their machines. L-plated 125s set off alongside vast V-twin cruisers, while dirt bikes on knobblies and classic British thumpers held their own in convoy with the latest sportsbikes. The 40-mile route took in the best of the region’s roads before making a triumphant arrival at Waldegraves Holiday Park on Mersea Island. BRAVE was set up by Iraq veteran Chris Baker to support a variety of specialist charities and this year all proceeds from the run went to SSAFA, the Armed Forces charity. Chris was left without the use of his legs after being injured by an IED whilst on active service and endured years of complicated and painful rehabilitation before a pillion ride changed his life. He said: “I was on a Holidays for Heroes in Jersey, when the local bikers turned up to give us veterans a rideout and I happened to pick the bike owned by Submariner Steve Ozouf. Once we were flowing through the bends and I experienced that sense of freedom, I had tears rolling down my face. Steve is now one of my closest mates.” Chris no longer rides pillion and these days he leads the Bomb Run on his Can Am Spyder RS-S. “I only just finished nailing this together this morning,” said ex-Royal Signalman Ian Blowes of his Kawasaki ZZR600, concerned that the fresh coat of NATO green paint might still be wet. Ian left the Army in 2000 having been injured during a training exercise and still wears his old flak jacket, but it’s hard to see the camouflage behind a plethora of patches. He smiles as he says: “A couple of hours spent sewing is worth months of therapy.” Chris and his well-drilled team of volunteers delivered a superb event and one that is definitely worth marking in your calendar for next year. For further info see the www.brave.-support site.
‘Local bikers came and gave us veterans a rideout’