Birthday boost for ambulance: Bike club celebrate with £30k donation

An Essex motorcycle club has marked its eighth anniversary by raising £30,000 for its local air ambulance charity.

Walden Bikers was formed in Saffron Walden in August 2014 after a handful of motorcycling mates, led by founding members Mike Wheeler and Mike Ratcliffe, organised a meeting at their local leisure centre. Eighteen riders turned up and Walden Bikers was born.

Eight years on from their initial meeting, the club has gone from strength to strength. A more permanent venue was found at the nearby village of Newport, and they now hold regular monthly meetings and events.

Alongside all that they’ve hosted various activities to raise money for the Essex and Hertfordshire Air Ambulance Trust (EHAAT) among other charities. Today, regular attendees can be in the hundreds, and the club’s Facebook group has grown to over 1100 members.

“We raise money for other charities, too,” club member Alex Luckett told MCN. “But, being bikers, the local air ambulance is very close to our hearts. It’s a real, local club with a real heart. Hopefully by next year we can make it £40,000!”

A well-attended birthday bash to mark the club’s eighth anniversary was hosted recently and saw the group hand over a ceremonial cheque for £30,000 to EHAAT.

Fundraising activities included the proceeds from tea and cake sales, raffles and the sale of motorcycle clothing, books, magazines and DVDs donated by members.

Club members were earlier given a tour of the EHAAT base and two members of the air ambulance came down to receive the cheque.