Thousands to support charity motorbike convoy

A charity motorbike convoy postponed earlier this year will welcome thousands of riders to its revised date.

The Bike4Life Ride Out and Festival was due to be held at Weston Park in Shifnal, Shropshire, in April but was called off after one of the wettest winters on record.

The event, which raises funds for Midlands Air Ambulance Charity, is a 26-mile ride from Meole Brace, Shrewsbury, to the park and takes place on Sunday.

"The event is incredibly valuable, it’s one of our biggest fundraising events of the year," said Emma Gray, from the charity.

"The ride out participants generally are from across the area we serve," she added.

"Unfortunately, for motorcyclists, it's one of the highest call out categories that we have for responding to missions, so they’re very supportive of the charity."

About 6,000 bikes will take part, and 10,000 visitors are expected at the festival.

The festival includes live bands, bike shows, trade stands and food, as well as the chance to meet crews from the air ambulance charity.

"It is a celebration of the biking community, but also of the work that the crews do," said Ms Gray.

The charity serves the communities of Gloucestershire, Herefordshire, Shropshire, Staffordshire and Stoke-on-Trent, the West Midlands, and Worcestershire.

It is totally reliant on fundraising from the public to make up the yearly costs of between £13m to14m.

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