Relay Riders UK, supporting the National Association for Bikers with a Disability (NABD) - 2023
The 2023 National Motorcycle Teddy Bear Relay, organised by charity fundraisers
‘Relay Riders UK’ will span three weeks from 18th June to 8th July, in aid of the National Association for Bikers with a Disability (NABD).
Departing from Blackpool Tower on Father’s Day, this year’s Relay will take the bears on a journey through England, Scotland, Wales and for the first time, Northern Ireland, before finishing at Squires Motor Café in Leeds on the 8th of July.
Being able to fulfil a long-held ambition for the bears to travel through Northern Ireland makes 2023 a very special year for everyone.
For 2023, the UK’s biggest annual motorcycle teddy bear relay has 257 dedicated, pre-determined handover points with a timed route between each one that takes the bears on a 10,000+ mile ride around the four home nations.
Message from Rick Hulse, Chairman of NABD:
“The National Association for bikers with a Disability (NABD) are honoured to have the Support of Relay Riders UK as their current chosen charity.”
Ever since a group of complete strangers decided to organise a charity ride in 2014 the relay has been making a difference to people’s lives, and since that initial event fundraising for Help for Heroes, the relay has gone on to raise much needed funds for such diverse charities as: Soldiers off the Street, UK Association for Milk Banking and The Doc Bike Project with almost £70,000 being raised in the process, including last year’s £10,500 for Mental Health Research UK.
The relay has a simple concept.
Once a rider has volunteered, they are allocated a handover point in the area they live in. Once registrations close routes are then planned between each handover point. The relay does not use motorways on any of the routes to make sure that the event is open to riders of all abilities & all bike sizes. Sounds simple, but the reality is that it takes months of careful planning to make this amazing event happen.
A full list of the charities supported by Relay Riders UK, as well as the timetable and route maps for the 2023 relay are available by visiting www.relayriders.co.uk
To get involved or find out more visit our website or find us on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.
Relay Riders UK, supporting Mental Health Research UK - 2022
MASSIVE, HUGE THANK YOU to EVERYONE who took part, supported and sponsored the 2022 National Teddy Bear Relay in aid of Mental Health Research UK.
This year’s mascot, who was named ‘Robbie’ (by Kevan Wildy) travelled 6253 miles in 12 days around mainland UK. Robbie visited 156 handover points being passed from motorbike to motorbike in a continuous 24/7 relay Starting at Streetbike in Halesowen. Travelling through the Midlands , then around the Welsh coast, back over the border to do a massive tour around England and up as far north as Brora in Scotland. His final handover was at Ladybower reservoir in the Peak District and then to his final destination at Squires in Leeds.
We’re still waiting for everyone to finish paying in their sponsorship money, but thank you to everyone who helped to make this magic happen!
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Tom Hurford, Jason Percival & Christina Jackson
Relay Riders UK admin
BIKERS ROUND-THE-CLOCK 8,000 MILE CHARITY RELAY - 2019
Between 28th June – 13th July 2019 the Relay Riders embarked on their annual charitable challenge in a bid to raise money for DocBike. This gruelling ride will consist of 14 days and nights of continuous riding across Britain accumulating a total of over 8,000 miles. This two-week relay ride sees the Relay Riders cuddly mascots Wally and Maureeen transferred between over 250 riders at set handover points across Britain, on a pre-set route . The event, which will see some riders donning fancy dress for their sections, and has so far raised over £6,500 at the time of writing.
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Tom Hurford, one of the organisation's founding members, feels that “It brings great pride to not only organise this event but also to take part and bring so many people together for such a worthy cause, the money we raise will undoubtedly make a huge difference to the charity and in doing so has bought great joy to many bikers all over the UK who will have taken part, planning has its ups and downs and brings a great deal of stress but once we hit that finish line it will all be worth it.”
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Relay Riders UK are a non-profit organisation of over 4,000 like-minded bikers, who come together to raise money for their chosen annual charity. The group was founded in 2014 by a group of friends for a round Britain relay, which raised £3,000 for Help for Heroes.
When trauma Doctors are able to deliver their skills to the patient at the scene of an accident, the outlook for both surviving their injuries and making a speedier recovery greatly improves. Whether it be flying on the Air Ambulance or riding the DocBike, speed and equipment are key in saving lives. The DocBike brings these key aspects together as the first active two wheeled road going life-saving Doctor Bike in the UK. At bike meets and events, it plays a key role in engaging with riders, delivering key road safety messages, bringing bikers of all kinds into post-test training
Relay Riders Uk over the past 5 years, have raised money for 6 different charities, Raising:
Help For Heroes - £3,000.00
Friends Of PICU - £2,700.00
NABB - £10,010.00
Soldier Off The Street - £11,341.04
UKAMB - £14639.00
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To support the Relay Riders, and to donate, please visitwww.relayriders.co.uk/donate
If you would like more information about this topic, please email info@relayriders.uk
Images (available from info@relayriders.uk)
