Organisers of the ’Yer Tiz’ motorcycle rally helped to make a Happy New Year for two charities and were extremely pleased when they presented two donation cheques totalling £2,329.70 just before Christmas. Motorcycle Outreach received £1,329.70 and Devon Freewheelers received £1,000. Both bike-related charities provide life-saving services to others in the UK and abroad and volunteer members are often unsung heroes.

Motorcycle Outreach was started by the late Simon Milward of Exeter to provide essential transport for hard to reach areas of the world. Whilst African countries are supported by Riders for Health, Motorcycle Outreach tries to support other remote areas.

Simon had organised a world trip in support of the charities, Medecins sans Frontieres and Riders for Health.

On seeing a direct and unmet local need during the trip, Simon helped to establish a pilot project based on the Riders for Health zero breakdown principles on the remote Indonesian island of Flores. This was called Health for All (HfA).

Sadly, during his journey to the Riders for Health centre in The Gambia, Simon lost his life in a road accident in Mali.

His mother, Jane Milward continues his work by visiting bike rallies and events with Simon’s specially adapted bike "The Overlander" which was custom built by John T Motorcycles of Newton Abbot, to raise awareness of the charity and raise some much needed funds.

Devon Freewheelers are a team of Emergency Vehicle volunteers who are dedicated to supporting the NHS by delivering much needed blood, samples, medication, donor breast milk and more to hospitals throughout Devon. The service runs weekdays out of hours and 24/7 at weekends.

The riders are supported by 30 volunteers who provide call centre services and essential fundraising support.

The service requires £150,000 per year just to keep running. The funds are essential in keeping the fleet of bikes and all terrain vehicles maintained to the emergency vehicle standards set by the police added to this is the HQs modest running costs and approximately £400 per week in fuel!

Some of the riders are in the process of becoming first responders who can assist at the point of emergency.

The fifth ’Yer Tiz’ motorcycle rally took place at the North Tawton Rugby Club in September last year and was very well attended by riders from across the country.

Founder and Chairman, Richard Long said ”Our team’s hard work throughout the year has really paid off and we’re seeing the rally’s popularity grow with our best attendance ever last year. We are really pleased to be giving the profits to such worthy causes”.

Preparations are now under way for this year’s rally which will take place in the autumn and is run by volunteers, independent of any other group or organisation.

The rally is a not-for-profit organisation to raise funds for motorcycle-based charities whose work benefits the wider communities they represent.

You may like to visit their website: www.yertizbikerally.co.uk or Facebook page to receive up-dates. Please visit the charities websites at www.bloodbikes.org and www.motorcycleoutreach.org to see how the donations will benefit people in Devon and beyond.