Volunteers focus – the LifeRiders.
23 September 2008
Riders is lucky to have the support of volunteers and supporters from around the world. One of the most long standing of these groups are the LifeRiders.
The LifeRiders team of fundraisers who work together and enjoy setting up their own events and fundraising venues throughout the UK for the past 14 years.
The team doesn’t only take 7 months of the year going around the country with their own stand – to shows and events – but arranges presentations of DVD assisted talks to clubs and organisations as well. Then at the end of their fundraising season, around October, the next year’s events are set up for starting all over again! In fact it is a full-time commitment.
Over the years the Liferiders team have raised over £96,000 for Riders work in Africa, and they are still going strong
The LifeRiders, led by long time Riders volunteer, Malcolm Emptage, have been raising money and awareness of Riders work in the Lincolnshire area for the past 14 years. Here, we focus on the work the LifeRiders are doing, and how the team got together.
Most weekends during the summer they can be found at events, selling raffle tickets, raising awareness of what we do, and looking for new people that might support our work.
The team also place collection boxes with local firms and interested groups in their area and give presentations to organisations who have continued to support us. As Malc Emptage, the coordinator of the team, explains, ‘These are not just 'bike friendly' people, but those we have 'brought on side' - so to speak. The LifeRiders are making sure that more and more people understand the link between reliable transport and sustainable health care.’
Just one of the events the team has been to this year was the May Bank Holiday racing at Cadwell Park, organised by the Retford District Motor Club and Derby Phoenix MC, both clubs having been supporters of The LifeRiders through their long-time friendship with the LifeRiders’ team coordinator. This has been a 30 plus year association with top sidecar racing promotion club Retford District MC and this year, as an added bonus, they had solo classes as well. ’The LifeRiders presented the ‘Riders for Health Sidecar Challenge Trophy’ (for the 10th year) which was won, as last year, by World Superside champ Tim Reeve. LifeRiders supporter, Steve Pikett, also gave a trophy on behalf of Riders for Health to the F400 class winner – Alan Armour. The LifeRiders made over £1000 at this one event! These are just some of the ways in which the LifeRiders team is involved in supporting Riders throughout the UK.
These are just some of the ways in which the LifeRiders team are now involved supporting Riders in their community. But how did it get started, all those years ago? Malcolm takes up the story.
In 1995 Malcolm was involved with the West Burton MotorCycle Club. ‘We gave £250 to Riders for Health at our Christmas charity event,’ explains Malcolm, ‘and Andrea and Barry came along to receive our donation.’
‘The following year the West Burton MC Club came to Donington to help run the Dunlop Helmet Bus, where we met Fiona and Paul – also Riders’ newbies, who have gone on to become long term supporters – and we made a pledge to raise funds for Riders.’
In 1997 The West Burton MC Club folded after 22 years. But that wasn’t the end of Malcolm’s involvement with Riders. In many ways, it was just the beginning.
‘Barry and Andrea had asked me to write, edit and run The LifeRider magazine for Riders for Health,’ recalls Malcolm. ‘I was gobsmacked - not because I couldn't do the job, as I already had a script wring past and a long biking history - but because I had been trusted to do it by two people I admire and who could have asked anyone but me. That is where The LifeRiders Support Team came from and is still in there doing the biz! What better name could we choose?’
Riders would like to thank all of the Liferiders for all of their continued hard work and dedication over the years. The British climate means that they are more-often-than-not out in all weathers, but their commitment and enthusiasm always wins over new supporters, and ensures that old ones keep coming back.
If you are in the Lincolnshire area you are bound to run into the team sooner or later, but if you would like more information about how you can get involved, why not click here?