Dress up for big charity fun day: Air Ambulance fancy dress ride out returns

Registration is now open for the Essex & Herts Air Ambulance (EHAAT) Motorcycle Run and Harwich Family Fun Day, which will take place on Sunday, September 10. Thousands are expected to attend the 60-mile ride – and fancy dress is the order of the day (with proper riding kit underneath, of course).

The ride will be in aid of the airborne charity, which relies on donations to keep running. According to the group, it costs over £750,000 each month to keep the lifesaving service operational.

Head of Income Generation at EHAAT, Emma Barker, said: “Bikers are a really key supporter group for us, partly because they are aware of how important the service is.

“It is a great day to get together with so many of the biking community, thank them, and raise awareness about the lifesaving work we do. The helicopter will land in Harwich if it’s free on the afternoon.”

Emma continued: “Over two decades, this event has developed into a really special community day and is one of our key fundraising events of the year. Although safety and riding appropriately is taken very seriously, and riders take part at their own risk, we want to inject a bit of fun so we encourage fancy dress.”

In 2022 alone, the EHAAT teams attended 2582 missions by road and through the air – each at a rough cost of £2000. This included 519 road traffic collisions, 984 medical emergencies, and more. These were split between the helicopter and Rapid Response Vehicles (RRVs).

Those taking part are asked to arrive from 8am, with the ride kicking off in waves from around 10am. It all finishes at the Quay in Harwich. The fun day will be on Harwich Green. To book your place, go to the EHAAT website.