Bike4Life 2023 Event Raises Record Funds for Lifesaving Missions

(Image caption: Bike4Life VIPs Carl Fogarty MBE (L) and Ollie Ollerton (R) giving the thumbs up at this year's event)

Thousands of bikers have helped raise more than £116,000, funding more than 72 future lifesaving missions for Midlands Air Ambulance Charity.

The 2023 Bike4Life Ride Out saw a total of 3,500 motorbikes ride in convoy for 23 miles between Meole Brace, Shrewsbury to one of the charity’s three operational airbases at RAF Cosford. Thousands of bikers and pillions took part and attended the Bike4Life Festival.

The event, which took place late April, was the most successful yet, helping to raise the six-figure sum for Midlands Air Ambulance Charity. This means that 36 air ambulance and an additional 36 critical care cars missions have been made possible.

The event, which was officially sponsored by The Bike Insurer, was supported by several famed VIPs including:

• Carl Fogarty MBE – one of the most successful world superbike racers who holds second highest number of race wins at 59.
• Steve Parrish – British former professional motorcycle and truck racer, and television commentator who was a teammate to Barry Sheene in the 1977 500cc world championship.
• Allen Millyard – An engineer and custom motorcycle builder having created specials like one of the world's largest, his Flying Millyard. Well known for appearing on television alongside Henry Cole.
• Ollie Ollerton – A former UK Special Forces Soldier and directing staff (DS) from Channel 4's SAS: Who Dares Wins.
• RubyRides – A motorbiking social media influencer with a big following on Instagram and YouTube.
• TV’s Emergency Bikers’ Mark Hayes and Steve Harris

Emma Gray, chief operating officer for Midlands Air Ambulance Charity, said: “Since its humble beginnings in 2010 as a small ride out, Bike4Life has grown in popularity and support, and we have now reached a record number of riders, festival goers and lifesaving missions funded by the event.

“Road traffic collisions made up a third of the incidents our clinical crew attended in 2021, and sadly a great number of these involve motorcyclists in time critical need of rapid, advanced clinical intervention. We are truly grateful for the support shown by the biker community at Bike4Life and are truly amazed by their kindness and generosity, which has helped fund future missions for our rapid response, pre-hospital service.”

To follow updates on the next Bike4Life event visit the Bike4Life website and search ‘Bike4LifeFest’ on Facebook and Twitter.

To find out more about Midlands Air Ambulance Charity’s vital, lifesaving work in your local area visit the website and follow the organisation on social media.

To find out more about this year’s Bike4Life sponsor, The Bike Insurer, visit The Bike Insurer website.