Following the postponement of Midlands Air Ambulance Charity’s Bike4Life Ride Out and Festival, the charity is making the event virtual until a new date can be scheduled.

The event, which was due to celebrate its tenth anniversary, this year, usually attracts over 10,000 biking enthusiasts annually. Any biker or motorcycle fan in the West Midlands who wants to show their support to Midlands Air Ambulance Charity is being encouraged to take part in a virtual version of the Ride Out, which they can get involved with from the comfort of their own homes.
 
To take part, Midlands Air Ambulance Charity is asking motorcyclists to email an image of themselves with their motorcycles to bike4life@midlandsairambulance.com. The pictures will then be used to create a ‘virtual ride out’ film which will go live via Bike4Life Facebook page and Midlands Air Ambulance Facebook page on the events original date; Sunday 26th April 2020.
 
It can be a photo you have already taken, as the charity is keen that people do not put themselves or others at risk but continue to follow all Government guidance. Entrants should only send images where they have the consent of all included to be in the virtual Ride Out.
 
The charity also has a prize available and anyone who submits a photo will be in with the chance of winning. The goodie bag includes merchandise from the charity’s Bike4Life clothing range, signed books from travel writer and biking enthusiast, Zoë Cano and tickets for the next Motorcycle Live. Emma Gray, fundraising and marketing director for Midlands Air Ambulance Charity, said:

“The postponement of Bike4Life and other events means a loss of £200,000 to the charity, which would have funded 34 air ambulance and over 700 critical care car missions.
 
“On average, we undertake a mission involving a motorcyclist every four days, and subsequently the support we receive for our lifesaving cause from the biking community is tremendous. We therefore felt we couldn’t let the postponed Bike4Life date pass without marking it in a special way.”

Midlands Air Ambulance serves the largest air ambulance region in the UK, including Gloucestershire, Herefordshire, Shropshire, Staffordshire, West Midlands and Worcestershire; representing a population in excess of six million.

Their medical staff respond to an average of ten calls for help per day, with those missions being split between their air ambulances and critical care cars. Each year it costs in excess of £9 million just to keep the three charity helicopters operational, with each air ambulance mission costing an average of £2,500 and critical care car mission's costing £224, which is entirely funded by the generosity of the general public and local businesses. 

You can find out more about the charity at midlandsairambulance.com.