Thousands of bikers gather for annual Bike4Life ride from Shrewsbury to RAF Cosford
Thousands of bikers took part in the annual Bike4Life Ride Out and Festival travelling in convoy from Shrewsbury to RAF Cosford in a spectacular convoy.
After bringing Meole Brace in the county town to a standstill as abound 3,500 bikes revved up and left the park and ride the convoy made its way along the A5, M54 and A41 with spectators finding vantage points along the 23 mile route to support the riders.
They were raising funds for the Midlands Air Ambulance Charity brought part of Shrewsbury to a standstill when they set off in the annual Bike4Life ride.
Among them were former SAS officer Ollie Ollerton who thanked everyone for getting involved. He said the air ambulance was an incredible charity.
"I know from my time in the forces just how important it is to airlift the injured to hospital as quickly as possible," he said.
The charity goes out to help, on average, one motorcyclist a week.
Waving off the riders was flag carrier, 10 year old Dexter Roberts from Rowley Regis. His grandfather, Maurice, was airlifted to hospital after a fall seven years ago.
Dexter and his family have been supporting the Midlands Air Ambulance since and he was asked to wave the bikers off by the charity.
Rich Baxter from Shrewsbury and his fiancée Poppy Robinson from Penkridge said it was great to be involved in the event.
"I am in the RAF in Lincolnshire and it is great to be back in Shropshire," Rich said.
"The roads are so much better here for bikes."
He grew up in a motorcycling family with his parents still riding, but Poppy is new to motorbikes - preferring her horses.
Workmates Jason Stanley and Oliver Ginot, from Ludlow, took part less than a month after completing a major motorbike challenge to raise funds for Help for Heroes.
Jason, who runs Wicked Van Hire in the south Shropshire town, said they were part of a team that, on 125cc bikes, rode from Ludlow to Lands End, to John O'Groats and back to Ludlow.
The two said the Bike4Life event was incredible.
"The noise when all the bikes start up gives you goosebumps," Jason said.
Friends from Shrewsbury and Telford joined up for the ride out.
Malcolm Higginson from Shrewsbury, Bridget Lewis and Lee Smith from Priorslee and Sam and Freya Rickman from Shrewsbury, said their love of biking let them to enjoy rides and holidays together.
"The air ambulance is such a great charity," Bridget said.
Also holidaying together were the Motorcycle Group from the Motor Caravan Club, 17 of them from across the UK staying on the site in Weston Park and joining the Bike4Life convoy.
Motorcycle social media influencer, Ruby Rides, said she was loving the amazing atmosphere.
"I just want to encourage women to ride bikes and speak up for ethnic minorities," she said.
"I love my bikes and I want others to enjoy motorcycling as much as I do."
