Bikers in fancy dress to tackle 500-mile ride for cancer charity

The ride is the brainchild of Andy Bridgewater, of Carr Vale, who is one of more than 170 members of the Facebook group, Chesterfield Bikers.

Andy has just lost his stepbrother, Daniel Turner, to cancer at the age of 29. His mother Val also died of the disease, while the life of his wife Bev’s grandfather was claimed by cancer three years ago.

“Among the group, we found that many others had been affected by cancer,” explained Bev, 28. “One had a mum who was terminally ill, while another said he had been to two or three funerals recently. So we decided to organise the bike ride, with the aim of raising £500 for Cancer Research UK.”

Bev and friend Katie Hitchman will drive the back-up car, while 30-year-old printer Andy and four other members of the bikers’ group, Steve Owen, Shaun Deakin, Red Mondo and Allison Page, tackle the marathon ride, which will cover three countries over the weekend of October 7 to 9.

“Fancy dress will include pink tutus and fairy wings!” said Bev. “We’ll even be dressing up the kids and our dog!”

The weekend will start at the Arkwright Arms pub in Duckmanton, where the group regularly meets, and move up to Anderby Creek on the East Coast for an overnight stay. The first leg will take them to Scarborough and up to Gretna Gren in Scotland, where they will spend Saturday night before the second leg back home, via Mold in Wales.

“Any bikers are welcome to join us,” says Bev. “We are raising money through sponsorship, scratch cards and collection buckets, and we have set up a donations page at www.justgiving.com/chesterfield-bikers. It’s in memory of those who have lost their battles against cancer, and to help others who are still battling.”