Air ambulance charity rideout and festival rasies thousands
Bike4Life ride helps keep Midlands Air Ambulance flying
‘The £85,000 total will pay for 40 missions’
The sound of 3000 bikes being fired up is something to behold. It’s an incredible, roar that causes the ground beneath your feet to vibrate, along with your teeth, eyeballs and every molecule in your body. And it’s an awesome feeling to be a part of it. Bike4Life is now in its ninth year and is crucial in supporting the Midlands Air Ambulance Charity (MAAC). CEO Hanna Sebright has been at the helm since the start. She said: “We began with just a few hundred riders, but this year we have 5000 (including pillions). Our total raised is expected to be around £85,000, which equates to 40 air ambulance missions. “The MAAC receives no government or lottery funding, so every penny raised makes a massive difference.”
That point was echoed by one of the VIPs leading the ride, none other than Carl Fogarty MBE. “It’s a real shame that the charity has to support itself when it does such important work.” Joining Foggy in the VIP line up was top TV commentator Steve Parrish, now on his third MAAC run and former England rugby captain Mike Tindall, MBE.
The rideout itself, along closed roads with spectators cheering all the way, culminates with the Bike4Life Festival at RAF Cosford. Top entertainment fills the rest of the day, including a demonstration by the MAAC’s aircrew.
MCN caught up with riders who had personal reasons for attending. “The next thing I knew I was waking up in hospital”, explained William Lloyd, who was enjoying the roads near Welshpool when he was involved in a collision with an oncoming vehicle.
Fiona Parry and her daughter Sophie Williams together raised £1500 in memory of Kevin Parry, Fiona’s husband, who lost his life in an RTA just six months ago. Although the Air Ambulance attended, the injuries Kevin had sustained were fatal. “We met at Bike4Life in 2011 and this amazing event became something of an anniversary for us,” said Fiona. The rideout sold out way in advance for 2018, so if you want to take part next year make sure you book early. You can sign up via www.midlandsairambulance.com