Shropshire is revving up and getting ready for the very first Charity Motorcycle Run on Sunday, September 2, when bikers from all over the country will leave Bridgnorth for Birmingham.
The ride starts at Bridgnorth Fire Station with registration from 10am and bikers leaving at 11am. The ride takes bikers through the beautiful South Shropshire countryside and onto the Clee Hill, and onto Bromsgrove taking the biker friendly routes around the south of Birmingham to finally arrive at the National Motorcycle Museum in Birmingham.
Various safety groups will attend and support the event along with a raffle with prizes including tickets to the Classic Motorbike Show at the NEC in November and tickets to the National Motorcycle Museum.
Emma Evans, Regional Fundraiser for the Fire Fighters Charity said: “This is going to be an amazing day for all attending. All money raised will go to The Fire Fighters Charity which is the UK leader in providing services that enhance the quality of life for serving and retired fire service personnel and their families.
“On the day, various groups will support the event and the Shropshire branch of the Institute of Advanced Motorists will show their support and offer advice on safer riding”.
Bridgnorth firefighter Ashley Brown said that Bridgnorth Fire Station was proud to support the Fire Fighters Charity as the registration and starting point of the event.
“A number of staff from Bridgnorth station have used the facilities and services that are provided by the charity over the last few years and it is great to be able to give something different back. We all appreciate the excellent services that the charity provides to firefighters, serving and retired as well as their families. We hope the day is an excellent success and the summer sun shines.”
“It is a great opportunity to talk and liaise with a large number of motorcycle riders from all over the region. Over the last few years staff have worked hard with partner agencies to reduce the number of collisions and injuries involving motorcycles.”
A charity spokesman said their mission was to place beneficiaries at the heart of everything they did to ensure that the fire and rescue community can rely on The Fire Fighters Charity as its primary point of contact for advice and support.
“We aim to provide practical assistance and solutions to make a real difference to the lives of members of the fire service community.
“Our Beneficiary Support Service offers a free confidential and impartial helpline for the fire and rescue community providing advice and support on a broad range of issues as well as having a nationwide network of professional staff and trained volunteers.“
Three centres in Devon, Cumbria and West Sussex offer rehabilitation programmes to serving and retired members of the fire and rescue community as well as recuperation breaks that provide the chance to relax in peaceful and tranquil surroundings which can aid emotional recovery following illness, injury, or bereavement.
It costs £9m every year to keep the charity running, and with no government funding, organisers are completely reliant upon donations from the general public and the fire and rescue community.
“In order for us to improve our services year on year, it is vital for us to have a reliable source of income that we can depend on.”
