Category: Charity

1. Sign up to the big biker event of the year

   Posted on 2:04pm Monday 3rd Feb 2014

   Bikers from Shropshire and the wider Midlands area are invited to start the season off in style on Sunday 27th April 2014.

   Bike4Life Fest is being held at RAF Museum Cosford in support for two local charities - the Midlands Air Ambulance and Royal Air Force Museum. The event is being run in collaboration with the Safer Roads Partnership and West Mercia Police and this year is being supported by radio station Planet Rock and is set to be the biggest organised biker gathering in the Midlands this year.

   The event will feature various trade stands, bike dealers, arena displays, live music at the Planet Rock stage and refreshments with plenty to entertain the non bikers of the family! The popular Bike4Life Ride Out will also be taking place on the same day, and is expected to attract over 2,000 bikers. Leaving from Meole Brace, Shrewsbury, the 23 mile Ride Out will finish at the event at RAF Museum Cosford where all the bikers can enjoy the entertainment on offer at the Bike4Life Festival.

   There will be the opportunity to speak to various local clubs and dealers, watch the activities on display in the arena and enjoy live music and food with fellow bikers. One of the main focuses of the event will be the opportunity to speak to The Institute of Advanced Motorcyclists (IAM), Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents (RoSPA) and other trainers to find out more about further training and additional courses that are out there to brush up on your biking skills.

   Vicki Bristow from the Safer Roads Partnership says: “It promises to be a great day out for riders. It doesn’t matter if you’re thinking about buying a bike, just getting started, or have been riding for years and are an experienced biker there will be something there for everyone. Put the 27th April in your diary now so you don’t miss the event!”

   With hundreds of bikers already signed up, organisers are expecting thousands will show their support on the day and join in the fun, so, if you’re a biker and you’re not already registered for the Ride Out or just want to find out more visit www.bike4lifefest.com or call the Bike4Life Festival team on 01902 376 252. Find us on Facebook by searching for Bike4Life Fest and follow us on Twitter @Bike4LifeFest.

   The festival will run from 10:00am to 4:00pm and visitors of all ages, not just bikers are encouraged to come along. Bikers wishing to participate in the ride out MUST have a full licence as the route to the Museum will travel along the M54 motorway.

   Bikers can find out more information on the Midlands Air Ambulance Charity by visiting www.midlandsairambulance.com or for more information on the RAF Museum Cosford visit www.rafmuseum.org. Further details about the Safer Roads Partnership can be found at www.srpwestmercia.org.uk

2. Prescott Bike Festival raises money for a life-saving charity, Bloodbikes

   Posted on 9:00am Friday 17th Jan 2014

   The annual Prescott Bike Festival will be taking place on Sunday 6th April 2014 and promises to be an action-packed day for all the family in support of the Nationwide Association of Bloodbikes charity.

   The fourth annual event will be larger than ever before, with even more bike manufacturers and clubs confirmed, plus a large display of historic, modern and race bikes on display in the paddock, demo areas, passenger rides, stunt show, trade stalls, live music, good food and a host of entertainment both on and off the track to keep the whole family amused. Special guest appearances include: former three times British Superbike Champion and Bloodbike ambassador John Reynolds, MotoGP commentator Steve Parrish, motorcycle adventurer Nick Sanders and making his debut appearance – Michael Rutter.

   Some of the many hundreds of historic, classic and race bikes at Prescott Bike Festival 2014:
   
   * Carlos Checa’s MotoGP Ducati Desmosedici GP5 and Checa’s 2011 WSB winning Ducati 1198 F1 (courtesy of Dawn Treader Performance)
   * David Jeffries' GSX-R1000 TT bike and James Toseland's first WSS machine
   * The 1930 Rudge Ulster belonging to David Osborne
   * Chris Sawyer's 1928 Cotton Blackburne
   * A rare Sachs R800 Roadster from 2002 owned by Barry Fahey
   * The 1959 Norton Dominator of Ian Cordes
   * Rare Excelsior Manxmans from Dave Lee and Adrian Sellars

   New features at Prescott Bike Festival 2014:
   
   * The Angelic Bulldog 400mph streamliner land speed motorbike project
   * Saturday night party and camping for Advance Ticket Holders only
   * Bigger and better Happy Hour of activity by rare race machinery and factory bikes on the hill
   * The first 100 Run the Hill bookings receive a free festival T-shirt
   * Kuberg electric motorbikes – have a go!
   * UK Garrison Star Wars costuming club
   * Early Bird breakfasts from 8.00am to 9.30am at special low prices

   Lots of live entertainment at Prescott Bike Festival 2014:
   
   * The Dave Coates Stunt Show as featured on TV and at many major motor sports events
   * George Formby Tribute
   * 1950s inspired rockabilly, rock & roll and R&B band, Josie and the Outlaw.

   Motorcycle and racing clubs already confirmed as attending:
   
   * Honda OC
   * Norton OC
   * XJR OC
   * Rolling Hills (Harley OC)
   * Classic 50cc Racing Club

   Festival organiser, Gordon Downie, says, “The annual Prescott Bike Festival continues to go from strength to strength. For 2014 we'll have more of everything alongside the usual attractions of the unique opportunity to ride the hill. As usual, all major motorcycle manufacturers will be in attendance so fans will get the chance to see all the major models up close and personal. There will be a host of trade stands as well as famous racers and great entertainment too. The Prescott Bike Festival 2014 really does offer something for everyone.”

   Venue:
   
   Prescott Hill Climb, Gotherington, Cheltenham, Gloucestershire, GL52 9RD,
   Easily accessible from junction 9 of the M5 and from London via the A40 to Cheltenham.

   Tickets:
   
   Advance tickets are £12; under 16s (with a paying adult) get in free.
   On-the-day tickets are £15; under 16s (with a paying adult) get in free.
   Run the Hill tickets are £35 and must be purchased in advance.
   There is no charge for bike parking (free side stand puck provided and free helmet park)
   Gates open at 08:30 and track action begins at 10:00. The festival closes at 17:00.
   All Advance Ticket holders (including Run the Hill) are invited to a pre-event party on the Saturday evening in the Clubhouse. Camping available to advance ticket holders only (limited availability)
   
   To purchase tickets in advance visit: www.prescottbikefestival.co.uk

   Exhibitor space is much sought after and limited to those who will add real value via their higher end product offer. The organisers welcome all enquiries; anyone interested in taking space should, in the first instance make their enquiry via the New Exhibitors section via the Exhibitors page on the website or email them directly at [email protected] for further information.

3. Foggy & Whit support Shrops & Staffs Blood Bikes

   Posted on 9:00am Friday 10th Jan 2014

   Four times World Superbikes Champion Carl Fogarty and ex-British Champion James Whitham will be the special guests at the launch of the Shropshire and Staffordshire Blood Bikes service at the RAF Museum, Cosford.

   Carl said: “I am pleased to support the Blood Bikes service which do such a great job in delivering urgently required blood and other medical items to NHS patients, helping tosave lives.”

   The newly formed Shropshire and Staffordshire Blood Bikes already have over 100 volunteer riders and supporters, ready to commence operations in support of the NHS this month with its first two specially equipped motorcycles.

   SSBB Chairman Chris Powdrill said: “We are delighted to have Carl Fogarty and TV pundit James Whitham with us to support the official launch of the Shropshire and Staffordshire Blood Bikes, to be hosted by BBCRadio Shropshire’s Jim Hawkins. The emergency Blood Bikes service is a charity run entirely by volunteers, providing a vital service delivering blood and medical items which can save the NHS up to £300 per urgent delivery compared to thecost of using commercial couriers. SSBB is fortunate to have raised sufficient funds to purchase its first two blood bikes but will need six bikes to provide cover for the whole of Shropshire and Staffordshire.”

   The SSBB launch event at RAF Museum Cosford at 2pm on 22nd January is open to everyone interested in the work of the Blood Bikes and coincides with Carl and James’ visit to Telford, where they will stage a leg of their UK chat show ‘Foggy and Whit - Givin’ it Gas’ at The Place later that evening. For full details of the tour visit www.foggyandwhit.co.uk

   If you would like to be involved or support Shropshire and Staffordshire Blood Bikes, visit here

4. Pledge Your Support To Charity's 8th National Carbon Monoxide Awareness Week

   Posted on 8:33am Sunday 6th Oct 2013

   We should of wound our very small charity up at the start of the year due to lack of donations and support. However we couldn't do this due to the amount of people contacting the charity from all over the UK in need of our advice or support.  

   The charity has noticed a sharp increase in the amount of carbon monoxide incident's it's seeing this year. I am sure you like I have noticed this and are as keen as us to try to prevent even more from happening. I believe we can expect more deaths and injuries from this silent killer this year if more organisations, companies etc don't join together with our very small charity to try to prevent them. I believe many of those living/working in the UK today still don't know enough about the dangers of carbon monoxide to make sure they and their family stay safe from this silent invisible killer. Therefore I thought that for just one week this November I would try to enlist your support to make sure that as many people as possible living/working throughout the UK become a little more aware about the dangers of carbon monoxide.

   Most people still don't realise that carbon monoxide (CO) is a colourless, odourless highly toxic gas that is produced by the incomplete combustion of any hydrocarbon fuel e.g. coal, charcoal, wood, oil, petrol, diesel, natural gas and liquid petroleum gas (LPG) They still seem to believe that it's produced by just the incomplete combustion of "natural gas" and if they don't use natural gas or have a gas boiler they are totally safe. This just isn't true. People still believe that you either die or make a full recovery from carbon monoxide. This isn't true as many of those poisoned by just low levels of carbon monoxide go on to develop long term chronic health problems. A group of people poisoned by carbon monoxide can be found here:

   I believe anyone with a interest in people, families, health and/or the safety of others can to do much more to help prevent people being injured or falling victim to this silent killer.  The charity's posters/leaflet's carry both the Association of Ambulance Chief Executives (AACE) and National Ambulance Resilience Unit (NARU). I am sure you will agree the webmaster did a fantastic job.

   Allowing anyone living here in the UK to find information on carbon monoxide very quickly. The charity's "Carbon Monoxide Android Phone App" can be downloaded via the above website's. Its a very handy app for everyone to have.

   The charity will launch a NEW updated website www.covictim.org on Monday 18th November 2013.  The charity's 8th National Carbon Monoxide Awareness Week starts Monday 18th November 2013. However for the first time in eight years the charity finds it's unable to visit Scotland, Wales, Ireland or any other area due to lack of donations. Therefore this year we are looking for people, organisations, businesses etc to pledge their support to the charity's 8th National Carbon Monoxide Awareness Week to help us reach the people we can't this year.   Please pledge your support and help us raise awareness about the dangers of this silent killer to everyone living/working here in the UK before they become the next victim of this silent killer!!!   

   Please don't forget to add Monday 18th November to your diary and do all you can to help our very small charity raise awareness about the danger of this silent killer to those living/working anywhere in the UK. I myself am a victim of this silent killer. My family and I were poisoned by carbon monoxide for over a decade. Fourteen years later we are still paying the price for our exposure to this silent killer. Please don't let someone you love/know or someone listening to YOUR show fall victim to this silent killer.  

   I don't get paid a penny for my charity work I do it because I don't want anyone else to suffer they way we have/still are. Please pledge your support and together we can save lives and prevent injuries to all those living and working in every community.

   Thank you. Kind regards

   Lynn

   Lynn Griffiths. Carbon Monoxide Awareness President/Victim of Carbon Monoxide.
   Founder of National Carbon Monoxide Awareness Week 
   Carbon Monoxide Awareness. Independent registered charity run "entirely" by volunteers. Charity No. 1125755

5. Santa riding down the M54 on a motorbike... in July!

   Posted on 1:17pm Tuesday 9th Jul 2013

   Apparently there was a lot of chat last night on free radio, as someone thought they had sunstroke on Sunday as they saw Santa riding down the M54 on a motorbike, then the Teletubbies on a trike.

   Well they were correct as Shifnab were doing their 5th 155 Mile Sponsored Fancy Dress Café Stop ride, in aid of the NABD (National Association for Bikers with a Disability) and the Orthotic Department @ Gobowen Hospital.

   Approximately 33 motorcyclists took part on the hottest day of the year so far, some wearing fantastic costumes over their leathers & melting inside, but it was worth it, as so far they have raised about £1,000 for the two very worth while causes with more money still being donated by companies and the general public.

   For further information or to make a donation please call 07584 449483 

   

   Shifnab were doing their 5th 155 Mile Sponsored Fancy Dress Café Stop