Richard Leads Bike4Life Charity for Midlands Air Ambulance

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Richard Leads Bike4Life Fundraiser In Aid of the Midlands Air Ambulance

Richard Hammond and Carl Fogarty lead charity bike ride

Published on Apr 26, 2015
I'm a Celebrity winner Carl Fogarty and Top Gear star Richard Hammond led from the front after joining thousands of other bikers at a charity rally. Fogarty, riding a Ducati scrambler, and Hammond, astride a "boring" BMW R1200RT, both praised the work of the Midlands Air Ambulance before setting off on the charity's fifth annual Bike4Life fund-raiser. About 3,500 bikers turned out in the sunshine to join the 23-mile ride-out from Shrewsbury to the Bike4Life festival at RAF Cosford.

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Richard Hammond leads Shropshire air ambulance charity bike ride

26 April 2015


Carl Fogarty (left) and Richard Hammond (right) lead the charity ride for Midlands Air Ambulance

Celebrity motorcyclists have led a charity ride raising money for the Midlands Air Ambulance.

Top Gear presenter Richard Hammond and World Superbike Champion Carl Fogarty will lead the 23 mile (37km) ride from Shrewsbury to RAF Cosford.

Organisers estimated there were more than 3,500 bikers in the convoy.

Mr Hammond said: "I know only too well how important and vital the lifesaving work of the Midlands Air Ambulance is in critical situations."


The 23 mile (37km) charity ride started in Shrewsbury and finished at RAF Cosford


Last year the charity bought an EC135 helicopter at a cost of £4.5m

The ride ended at the Bike4Life festival, an annual event raising money for the Midlands Air Ambulance Charity, held at its at RAF Cosford base, near Wolverhampton.

The charity, which receives no government support, covers Gloucestershire, Herefordshire, Shropshire, Staffordshire, Worcestershire and the West Midlands.

It uses additional bases at Tatenhill, near Burton-upon-Trent, Staffordshire, and at Strensham Services, near Tewkesbury, Worcestershire.

www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-32416619

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Carl Fogarty and Richard Hammond Lead Biker Rally for Charity

26 April 2015 at 5:33pm


Carl Fogarty and Richard Hammond led 5,000 bikes in a rally for charity. Credit: Matthew Cooper/PA Wire

World Superbike champion Carl Fogarty and Top Gear star Richard Hammond have led 5,000 motorbikes at a charity rally to raise money for the Midlands Air Ambulance.

Fogarty, riding a Ducati scrambler, and Hammond, astride a "boring" BMW R1200RT, both praised the work of the ambulance service before setting off on the charity's fifth annual Bike4Life fundraiser.


The Bike4Life event is also designed to promote road safety. Credit: Matthew Cooper/PA Wire

About 5,000 bikers turned out to join the 23-mile ride-out from Shrewsbury to the Bike4Life festival at RAF Cosford.

Before the rally, Hammond was also asked if he had any news on the future of the BBC's Top Gear programme following the sacking of Jeremy Clarkson.

Hammond told reporters: "Everybody knows what's happened. That's all been in the news. The future, nobody knows yet do they?

"And I cannot and won't speculate further than that. So don't know, let's see. It'll be exciting whatever."

www.itv.com/news/2015-04-26/carl-fogarty-and-richard-hammond-lead-biker-rally-for-charity/

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PUBLISHED: April 27, 2015 12:05 pm LAST UPDATED: April 27, 2015 4:56 pm
IN PICTURES: King of Jungle, Carl Fogarty, leads 5,000 on charity Bike4Life ride

Five thousand bikers lined up behind the most successful World Superbike champion and a Top Gear star to raise money at a charity rally.



I’m a Celebrity winner Carl Fogarty and presenter Richard Hammond led from the front in the fifth annual Bike4Life fundraiser in aid of the Midlands Air ambulance..

Fogarty, riding a Ducati scrambler, and Hammond, astride a ‘boring’ BMW R1200RT, both praised the work of the Midlands Air Ambulance having both relied on the expert skills of its paramedics in the past.

The sun shone as the thousands of motorcyclists enjoyed the 23-mile ride-out to the Bike4Life festival at RAF Cosford, near Wolverhampton.

As well as raising much-needed money for the Midlands Air Ambulance, Bike4Life also promotes road safety.

Speaking before the start of the event in Shrewsbury yesterday, Hammond said: “I love anything that brings together the biking community anyway, and particularly if it brings it together with an eye to the services that we need, like air ambulances.

“We’re all here for the same reason. We love bikes and we’re aware of the fact that like any other pastime, you can get injured and when that happens the services of the air ambulance can be the difference between life and death.

“So this is showing support for the work that they do for us and for everybody else.”

Both Fogarty, known as Foggy, and Hammond had reason to be thankful for the air ambulance service. Richard Hammond was flown to hospital in Leeds in 2006 after an horrific crash involving a jet-powered dragster.

Speaking at RAF Cosford’s bike festival after the ride, which began in Shrewsbury, King of the Jungle Fogarty said: “Today has been really nice. I always enjoy these events and the sun is shining and we are raising awareness for a good cause.

“The ride out was really amazing. I enjoyed that, it felt special and humbling to lead all these bikes along the road. I had goosebumps seeing all the fans as we rode past on the bridges.

“The air ambulance is very important. The charity is closer to me than some others, I think I have used it quite a few times over the years. It’s a service we definitely need. I think it costs about £6 million a year to keep one of these things in the air.”

Hammond said he had considered taking part in the rally on a “civilianised” version of one of Fogarty’s race bikes but decided against it. The TV presenter explained: “It’s a treasured possession and I thought brilliant, I’ll come on that.

“And then I thought no, because I’m not riding that next to Foggy himself, I’ll feel such an idiot. So I’m on my boring bike.”

Hammond, who later went with co-presenter James May to see some of their bikes being sold off at the Staffordshire County Showground in Stafford, was also asked if he had any news on the future of the BBC’s Top Gear programme following the decision not to renew Jeremy Clarkson’s contract.

Hammond told reporters: “Everybody knows what’s happened. That’s all been in the news. The future, nobody knows yet do they? And I cannot and won’t speculate further than that. So I don’t know, let’s see. It’ll be exciting whatever.”

Helen Stevens, from the Midlands Air Ambulance, said: “It is enormous for us.

“We put this on every year and hope people will come and support us and they have come in their drones.

“People have shown their support for the air ambulance and the museum and Carl Fogarty’s support for the event has really helped with that.”

Michelle Morgans, of the RAF Museum Cosford, added: “Today has been brilliant the weather has been absolutely fantastic, it has brought the bikers out to take part in their thousands. From the museum’s perspective this opens us up to a whole new audience it brings people here, events of this scale do not happen all that often and this is fast becoming one of our big events.

“And there has been great support from members of the public who lined the streets to show their support.”

When the convoy arrived at RAF Cosford, the Bike4Life festival included live music supported by Planet Rock, trade stalls and arena entertainment.

The Midlands Air Ambulance, which relies solely on donations from the public, operates three emergency helicopters covering 5,500 square miles including Birmingham and the wider West Midlands, Staffordshire, Gloucestershire, Worcestershire, Herefordshire and Shropshire.



www.expressandstar.com/picture-galleries/news-pictures/2015/04/27/in-pictures-king-of-jungle-carl-fogarty-leads-5000-on-charity-bike4life-ride/bikes-3/

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PUBLISHED: April 24, 2015 08:00 LAST UPDATED: April 24, 2015 12:51

Richard Hammond getting in top gear for Shropshire charity motorbike ride

He’s got quite a bit of spare time on his hands these days, what, with the demise of Top Gear. So Richard Hammond is putting those spare hours to good use by raising money for the Midlands Air Ambulance.


Richard Hammond

On Sunday, the TV presenter will join World Superbike legend Carl Fogarty on a huge biking event between Shropshire and Wolverhampton.

Hammond, Fogarty and an estimated 3,500 riders will form a cavalcade between Shrewsbury’s Meole Brace and RAF Cosford.

They are hitting the road as part of Bike4Life, which aims to generate tens of thousands of pounds for charity.

Hammond is an avid biker and has ridden motorcycles since the age of 16. He currently rides a collection of bikes from the 1920s right up to the present date.

His daily ride is a BMW R1200RT, which he describes as ‘ugly with a face like a melted welly’.

Hammond said: “I love riding bikes, it’s something I’ve done for as long as I remember. And I plan to carry on doing it for a long time yet. And it doesn’t matter how good you get, how skilled, experienced or advanced; it’s other motorists who perhaps aren’t as focused as you that will get you. and when they do, it hurts.”

He’s thrilled to be part of the event and delighted that it will raise money for the Midlands Air Ambulance, which has saved the lives of many bikers.

He added: “I got caught out twice last year, hitting the deck both times. I was lucky; not so badly beaten up. But I know only too well how important and vital the lifesaving work of the Midlands Air Ambulance is in critical situations. Often it can mean the difference between life and death, especially on rural roads and locations which are inaccessible for land ambulances to reach.

“The Bike4Life campaign is a great way for all bikers to come together and show their support for the great work of the Midlands Air Ambulance. Let’s be honest, nobody wants to require their services, but when you do, you’re very, very glad they’re there. Please sign up today and join the ride out on Sunday.”


Hordes of riders will be hitting the road for charity

Hammond and fellow former Top Gear presenter James May are selling a dozen motorbikes at auction at the International Classic MotorCycle Show at Staffordshire County Showground on Sunday

Bonhams Spring Stafford Sale will include 12 bikes belonging to the pair, with Hammond’s including a 1970 Triton 500cc ‘Café Racer’ and 1977 Honda GL1000 Gold Wing up for grabs.

The Solihull-born presenter will be joined at the front on the 23-mile ride by seven times World Superbike Champion Carl Fogarty.

The ride out will start out at 11.30am on Sunday in Shrewsbury with bikers taking to the roads in convoy before arriving at RAF Cosford for the Bike4Life Festival.

They are not the only celebrities supporting the event. Motorbike enthusiasts including Duran Duran front-man Simon Le Bon and former England rugby captain Mike Tindall have also lent their support.

Le Bon and Tindall, who are unable to ride on Sunday because of other commitments, believe it’s a great idea. They say the annual motorbike festival helps raise much-needed funds and they are keen for locals to sign up. Le Bon said the event promoted road safety and helped raise awareness of the work of the Midlands Air Ambulance Charity.


Midlands Air Ambulance

The lead singer of the iconic British pop band Duran Duran, who are currently completing work on their 14th studio album, has been a keen biker for many years.

He didn’t think twice about supporting the event and the Midlands Air Ambulance Charity. Le Bon currently rides a 1968 Triumph Bonneville T120r, a 1997 Yamaha XT500 and a 1991 Ducati 888 SPS.

He said: “Two of my biggest passions in life, next to music, have long been sailing and motorbikes, so I am thrilled to be able to support this year’s Bike4Life event, alongside “Foggy”, Richard Hammond and Mike Tindall and help raise valuable funds for the Midlands Air Ambulance Charity.

“The life-saving work that all of the UK’s air ambulance services do, alongside the RAF/Royal Navy SAR helicopters teams, is vital - and like so many bike enthusiasts, I know the value of emergency medical care only too well. I am honoured to have been invited to get involved in this year’s campaign and lend my support to the Midlands Air Ambulance and Bike4Life 2015 “

Now in its fifth year, Bike4Life kick starts the motorcycle season. The annual Bike4Life Festival raised over £30,000 for the Midlands Air Ambulance last year. In previous years it has attracted over 8,000 bikers and enthusiasts from across the UK the Midlands Air Ambulance Charity hopes to make 2015’s event the biggest and best yet.

The Midlands Air Ambulance is one of the busiest air ambulance services in the UK and the charity was the first ever air ambulance to be established in the UK in 1991. The charity receives no Government funding and no National Lottery donations, relying solely on the generosity of the public each year.

The charity currently operates three helicopters covering the largest air ambulance region in the UK of 5,500 square miles serving a population in excess of 5.5 million people. It covers Birmingham and the wider West Midlands, Staffordshire, Gloucestershire, Worcestershire, Herefordshire and Shropshire areas.

Mike Tindall said: “As a biker I am delighted to support the Midlands Air Ambulance Charity and the Bike4Life event, it’s important for the biking community to come together and support such a great cause.


www.shropshirestar.com/news/2015/04/24/richard-hammond-getting-in-top-gear-for-shropshire-charity-motorbike-ride/