|
BIKERS RAISE THOUSANDS IN ANNUAL EGG RUN
10 March 2007
Thousands of bikers roared through the streets of Stoke-on-Trent collecting Easter eggs for needy children.
The Star Bikers' 30th annual Egg Run saw about 3,000 motorcyclists converge at the Britannia Stadium yesterday.
Many dressed up as chickens or bunnies to ride the 14-mile route through the city.
As they passed by, crowds of supporters handed them chocolate eggs and donations, which will be distributed to needy children in hospitals, homes and single-parent families.
Organisers expect the event to raise about £2,500, with about 3,000 eggs gathered.
Ian Brown, aged 34, of Hatfield Crescent, Blurton, teamed up with 19-year-old girlfriend Kirsty Smith to collect the most eggs possible.
He said: "Kirsty rides on the back and balances the eggs we collect. Last year we had so many we just couldn't carry any more.
"It's a great atmosphere and lovely to be able to do something for disadvantaged kids."
At the end of the route a party is held at the Kings Hall, in Stoke, with refreshments, music and stalls.
Barry Elks, aged 52, of Dyke Street, Northwood, brought his eight-year-old grandson Jordan to take part in the event for the first time.
He said: "Jordan has watched the egg run in previous years and now he's very keen to get involved - he had already collected four eggs before we even set off.
"It's a great community that comes here.
"It helps improve our image and the kids love it."
Young Francesca Potts, of Woodvale Crescent, Endon, is already a veteran of the event at the age of nine.
Her dad, Pete, aged 38, said: "We have done the egg run together every year since Francesca was old enough to sit on a bike.
"It's great fun, especially for children, and it will help convince everyone that bikers are not hooligans."
Phil and Sue Parker, of Hartington, near Buxton, got into the spirit of the event by dressing up as a chicken and an egg, though they wouldn't say which came first.
The couple took part for the second time.
Sue said: "We really enjoyed it last year and this time wanted to dress up to make it more fun for the kids along the route."
Lynsey Raeper, aged 27, of Meir, brings her two daughters Courtney, aged six, and Jade, aged three, to witness the spectacle every year.
She said: "The girls enjoy it so much it's unreal.
"They love giving the eggs out to the bikers and get very excited at being allowed to sit on the bikes."
Husband and wife, Fay and Peter Marsden, of Bladon Close, Chell, have been spectators of the event for the past 15 years.Peter, aged 44, said: "It's great to see all the different bikes, it's an amazing spectacle. We always bring Easter eggs and donate to the toy and pet food runs too. It's just a great day out."
GET READY TO EGG ON CHARITY BIKERS
RICHARD AULT - 8 February 2008
Thousands of bikers are preparing to roar through the streets of Stoke-on-Trent once more, collecting Easter eggs for needy children as they go.
The Star Bikers will embark on their annual Egg Run on Sunday, March 9, setting out from the Britannia Stadium.
Now in its 30th year, the group claims it is the oldest charity motorcycle event of its kind in the country.
Every biker taking part in the ride brings a donation of £2, plus an Easter Egg.
As the riders parade along a 14-mile route through the heart of Stoke-on-Trent, they will collect more eggs from the crowds lining the streets to support them.
The eggs will then be distributed to needy children in hospitals, homes and single parent families.
Organiser Anthony Middleton, aged 37, of Penkhull, said: "The original run was done 30 years ago, when the club was based at the Star Inn in Marsh Street.
"It used to meet regularly, but over the years people have left, getting married, or joining other clubs.
"Now we are a group of mates who meet to organise the egg and toy runs.
"We normally raise about £2,000 from the run, after we have paid expenses, but the main thing is the eggs, which are given to people who wouldn't normally receive one. We get bikers taking part from all over the country, as well as from Stoke-on-Trent. We have already heard from people in the Isle of Man who are going to be coming over to join in. It is a really good event."
At the end of the route, at the Kings Hall, there will be refreshments, a free prize draw, a live band and disco and face painting and stalls.
Bikers will be able to buy a souvenir metal pin badge, T-shirt or sweatshirt as a memento of the day, with the proceeds going to yet-to-be determined children's charities.
Last year, about 3,000 bikers set off from Britannia Stadium on the egg run, many donning fancy dress for the occasion.
As well as the egg run, the Star Bikers also organise a toy run, where the bikers each bring a toy which is then distributed to charity.
Biker Tony Biggs, aged 64, from Chesterton, regularly takes part in the egg and toy runs.
He said: "It's always a great atmosphere. People line the streets and give you Easter Eggs, you just pull in and collect them as you pass.
"There's always a couple of thousand people taking part, and it's always a really good laugh at the Kings Hall afterwards. The bikers are such a nice lot of people."
The Coppice Special School at Newcastle, is one of the children's charities to benefit from the Star Bikers rides in the past.
Headteacher Sandra Baker said: "We were overwhelmed with their generosity. Half-a-dozen of our children got to follow the bikers in a stretch limousine and the children all gave selection boxes. Then the bikers came into school and presented us with a cheque for £1,500, which was wonderful."
BIKERS EGGED ON TO RAISE CHARITY CASH
DHARMISHA PATEL - 20 March 2007
Thousands of bikers are revving up ahead of a giant cavalcade across Stoke-on-Trent to collect Easter eggs for needy children.Big-hearted motorcyclists will take part in the 29th annual Star Bikers Charity Egg Run on Sunday.
Riders and their passengers will gather at Britannia Stadium at 11am, and will be led by the Lord Mayor of Stoke-on-Trent, Jean Edwards, along the 14-mile route.
Participants are asked to bring a donation of £1 and an Easter egg, and will collect donations from onlookers who line the route.
The journey ends at the King's Hall, in Stoke.
There, the eggs will be collected ready for distribution to needy children in hospitals, homes, and those living in single-parent families. Last year, more than 2,000 bikers took part, and Star Bikers treasurer Rob Dolman is hoping for an even better turnout on Sunday.
He said: "It wasn't as successful last year as we'd hoped because of the weather.
"This year we hope the weather holds out for us.
"We've already booked the hall, we're ordering T-shirts, badges and advertising, and we've started looking for marshals to help us on the day.
"Once one run has finished, we start having meetings about the next.
"I enjoy being involved in the egg run. It makes me feel good.
"People should realise that it's a run for charity, to show these children that we care about them."
Following the cavalcade, refreshments will be available at the King's Hall, along with a free prize draw, a live band and disco, and various stalls.
Souvenir metal pin badges, T-shirts and sweatshirts will be available for purchase.
A small proportion of the money raised on the day will go towards unavoidable expenses, such as the hire charge of the hall.
The remainder of the funds will be handed out to charities nominated by the club's charity committee.
Staffordshire Police, the run organisers and marshals all give their time and effort free of charge.
One of the aims of the event is to promote road safety among the biking community and other road users.
STAR BIKERS RIDE OUT BAD WEATHER
LAURA NAYLOR - 11 December 2006
Thousands of bikers braved dismal weather to take part in the 29th Star Bikers Toy Run - and raise £1,800 for charity.
Stoke-on-Trent's roads were filled with the noise of more than 1,500 motorcycles, as the cavalcade fought through the biting cold and stinging rain to support disadvantaged children.
Reindeers, Santas, fairies and elves were seen riding bikes and scooters on the 14-mile route yesterday to collect toys from people lining the streets to cheer them on.
All donations will be passed to Stoke-on-Trent City Council's social services department for distribution to children's homes and other organisations.
The weather did little to deter the participants who turn up year after year to support the event.Mark McEvoy, a prison officer from Stoke, sat perched on a bike laden with hundreds of toys - many of which had been donated by inmates.The 41-year-old has taken part in the annual event more times than he can remember, and was keen to be involved once again.He said: "I come every year, and each time I add more toys to the bike. They all get donated along with everyone else's gifts, and I enjoy doing my bit to support the kids. "I love biking, and this event was a bit of fun and a chance to see people I've not seen for 12 months."I've got everyone at work involved now - we all want to make sure needy children receive good presents this Christmas."
Travelling alongside Mark was Don Wemyss, who lives in Weston Coyney. Don, aged 69, was carrying his 10-year-old great-niece, Megan Tyrer, on the back of his bike, and this was the fourth time they had taken part in the toy run.He said: "Megan likes the bike rides, so that's why we come along every year."The toy run is all about providing gifts for underprivileged children, and I think it's a great event."Megan, who dressed as Santa, added:"It's exciting being on the back of a bike and I like the fact I'm helping other children."
Among the various Santas taking part was a cheery Rudolph planning to lead the way. Chris Kilford, a gas fitter who lives in Meir, was a participant for the second time, and was kitted out in a convincing reindeer outfit for the occasion. The 43-year-old was travelling with his brother, Martin, and said: "It's nice to give something back to the community, and hopefully boost the image of motorcyclists."Bikers taking part were asked to donate £1 to local charities as well as a toy at the start of the run.
The convoy - headed by Stoke-on-Trent Lord Mayor Jean Edwards - left the Britannia Stadium at 11am, and took in Weston Coyney, Bentilee, Bucknall, Abbey Hulton, Sneyd Green, Hanley, Shelton, Northwood and Stoke.
Rob Dolman, treasurer of the Star Bikers group, said: "We had fewer people than last year thanks to the weather, but despite the rain and the cold we still managed to raise a fantastic amount of money and collect a lorry-load of toys."
GOOD EGG BIKERS ROAR THROUGH THE STREETS
HARRI ASTON - 27 March 2006
Hundreds of bikers roared their way through Stoke-on-Trent yesterday to collect Easter eggs for needy children. Generous well-wishers also turned out in force for the 28th annual Stoke-on-Trent Star Bikers' Egg Run, lining the city's streets and handing out donations and chocolate eggs to passing bikers.
About 2,000 motorcyclists and scooter riders took part in the 14-mile ride through the city, which began at Stoke City's Britannia Stadium.
The 4,000 chocolate eggs collected will be passed on to social services and distributed to children in need at hospitals, homes and single parent families around Stoke-on-Trent.
Father-of-two Andrew Swift, aged 37, of Trentham Lakes, lined up on Stanley Matthews Way with his children to hand out chocolate eggs.
He said: "People in Stoke-on-Trent always turn out and give their support to local children and I think it is a cracking idea. I have got friends who take part in it and I come and support them as well.
"I think it's brilliant. The children also like the bikes and it is a chance for them to see the bikes all together."
Alan Sutton, aged 61, from Hanford, said: "In this day and age we get so much bad news and this is something really good. I just think it is superb.
"The kids benefit a lot and, being an ex-biker, it is great to see the old machines. The bikers also stop and chat to you. I have been very lucky in life, not wealthy but not poor, but these guys are putting themselves out to do all this for the kids. It is great to see."
Mark Williams, aged 38, from Newcastle, said: "I come to support the bikers. I ride a motorbike myself and it is nice to show solidarity with something like this. A lot of people support it and they come out in all weathers. It is well organised and the children love it."
The riders - many in fancy dress and on machines of all shapes and sizes - started arriving at the King's Hall in Stoke just after noon when eggs, toys and cash collected during the tour round the city were handed over to volunteers.
Rob Dolman, one of the organisers, said around 4,000 Easter eggs had been donated.
He said: "It has gone absolutely fabulously. A lot of things were against us, such as the clocks going forward and with it being Mother's Day, and I want to thank people for coming out to support us."
His co-organiser Antony Middleton said: "We have had a brilliant response. Now matter what the weather, people seem to come out.
"This is for children who would not normally get an Easter. I think that is why we get such a good turnout on the streets, because it is all done for children."
BIKERS GET REVVED UP FOR TOY RUN
LAURA NAYLOR 07/12/06
Thousands of bikers are expected to turn out for this year's traditional festive toy run.The 29th Star Bikers Toy Run will take place on Sunday and is expected to attract motorbike enthusiasts from as far away as Worcester and Liverpool.
Committee secretary Antony Middleton is hoping the funds raised to help disadvantaged children will top last year's total of £2,800 and hopes to see the city's streets lined with supporters cheering on the bikers.
He said: "We can probably lay claim to being the oldest charity motorcycle event of its type in the country.
"Bikers from Staffordshire and the surrounding counties have been contacting the committee about the event through the website, and we're hoping that around 2,500 motorbikes and scooters will be on the roads.
"The toy run helps needy children at Christmas - there are a lot of people who do not get the presents that normal families get, and the toys that are donated are a big help to children's homes, hospitals or single parent families.
"Last year was very successful but we're hoping to do even better this year in support of all the disadvantaged children in Staffordshire."
The cavalcade first started from the Star Inn, on Marsh Street, Hanley, and has grown rapidly over the past 29 years.
Toys were collected at the pub and handed out at Penkhull Homes - a former children's home - with about 100 people involved.
Bikers taking part are now asked to donate £1 to local charities as well as a toy at the start of the run. And spectators cheering them on also hand out toys as they drive past.
All donations will be passed on to Stoke-on-Trent City Council's social services department for distribution to children's homes and other organisations.
The convoy - headed by Stoke-on-Trent Lord Mayor Jean Edwards - will travel around a 14-mile route taking in Weston Coyney, Bentilee, Bucknall, Abbey Hulton, Sneyd Green, Hanley, Shelton, Northwood and Stoke.
All participating bikers get a raffle ticket and entry to the Kings Hall in Stoke, where there will be a live band, disco, face painting and stalls.
As a memento of the day, souvenir pin badges, T-shirts or sweatshirts can be bought, with all proceeds going towards the charity effort.
The run will begin at 11am when bikers leave the north car park at the Britannia Stadium.
A council spokesman added: "We think it's a fantastic event that we're happy to support.
"Its continued popularity and success just shows how good hearted the population of this area is in helping those less fortunate than themselves."
|
