Easy riders drum up cash
Big-hearted bikers raise money in memory of Ray
A Rutherglen- based biker club paid tribute to their late vice president by donating money to a charity close to his heart.
Members of Road Spartans paid a visit to Enable, a group for adults with learning difficulties, to hand over a cheque for £350.
The bikers chose Enable, whose Rutherglen group operates out of the Fernhill Community Centre, because former VP Raymond Barratt had a family member who attended.
Enable was supposed to be Road Spartans’ charity of choice last year, but Ray’s tragic death in a motorcycle accident in August last year interrupted their fundraising.
However, Ray’s pals were determined to pick up the strand and donated funds raised at their anniversary event and charity box to the Enable members, who were even able to have a shot on the motorbikes.
Road Spartan vice president Vhairi Reynolds said: “We lost our vice president last year and he had a family connection with Enable.
“When Ray died we started doing quite a lot of fundraising for the funeral, people from all over Rutherglen were chipping in, it was amazing.
“The guys at Enable were brilliant. We went up and they all wanted to go on the bikes.” Enable’s Rutherglen group has around 75 members, including relatives and carers of adults with learning difficulties.
They rely on fundraising and donations.
Mary Cassidy, chair of the Enable group, said it wasn’t just the money the group had been grateful for and said: “The £350 is great, but the fact they actually came up and spent a night here was just brilliant.
“We’re absolutely delighted. The members had so much fun and were even able to get on the motorbikes.
“We rely on donations. We try and not press members for money as many of them are on low income.
“Everyone is classed as a member. We have around 50 adults with learning difficulties and then you have parents, sisters, carers and other family members. We want everyone to be part of it.”
Mary revealed the money would be used for a trip to the 10-pin bowling, but she laughed: “I don’t think we’ll get motorbikes there, perhaps the guys can give us an escort.”