Presentation report part 2.
Right so how did we do in relation to our overall sponsorship raise for the Air Ambulance.
2009 has been a very difficult year financially for a lot of people but yet again there have been some fantastic amounts raised.
Every pound raised is very precious because without your continued support lives would be lost. All the money raised by us for the air ambulance goes directly into funding the operation.
It does not go to paying wages or ANY THING LIKE THAT. Wages etc are paid out of a separate concern which come under the Air Ambulance control and that is the collection service whereby people donate brick a bat etc. You know the plastic bag collections and the like. All public money donated keeps the helicopters in the air end of story.
What has become very apparent with the Boundary is that it has been an immeasurable success in promoting and spreading the word about the air ambulance service and Zoë’s Baby Hospice. Regularly there are spin offs whereby people who have taken part in our events have gone back to work and nominated one of the charities for collections and all sorts of fund raising initiatives.
Could I now ask Dave Rathmell (representing Simon Bailes) and Barbara Walton (Great North Air Ambulance) to join me?
Simon Bailes as you know has been a keen supporter of the Boundary from day one. He insists on you all having something to eat and drink before competitors in the 500 mile Challenge set off on their event.
Barbara is an Executive with The Great North Air Ambulance Service and also a keen supporter of the Boundary 500 Motorcycle Group. She is also the boss of Linda and Mandy our two lisason officers who are here tonight and on their best behaviour.
Now normally I would be part of the group presenting the cheque but I think that it is only right and proper that, that function should be passed to someone who has worked tirelessly throughout the year to promote the Boundary and also looked after welfare issues that have arisen.
I would also like to re-affirm the Boundary position in that, the group welcomes everyone and one thing what we are very proud of is that the females within the group are in a safe environment and anything other than a safe environment is not tolerated.
I would like Jacqui Grey to come up and represent the Boundary 500 in presenting this cheque to The Great North Air Ambulance Service.
The amount that has been collected for The Great North Air Ambulance is a minimum of, (money is still coming in)
Play the Power Point presentation £45,256
When the official photographs are over please feel free to have your photos taken with the cheque.
Presentation of awards for most sponsorship raised.
Each year courtesy of Alt-berg boots we present to the two people who have raised the most amount of sponsorship for the Great North Air Ambulance. There have been some excellent amounts collected and every ones hard work and support is really appreciated.
To present these prizes could Paul Joyce please join me.
Just to reaffirm things every pound is precious.
The person who raised the second highest amount of sponsorship for 2009 with £890 was Andy Walker. (Unfortunately Andy cannot be with us tonight and can I ask Malcolm Grey to receive the gift voucher on his behalf)
The person who raised the most sponsorship was Father Nick Jennings with,
£1605.55p
Father Nick is a Roman Catholic priest at St Patricks at Fairfield and I have it on good authority that he charges £5 for each Hail Mary and £20 for absolution.
New event for 2010.
As everyone knows each year I try to come up with a new event which is challenging and gives people a number of goals to aim at, whilst enjoying motorcycling and at the same time raising much needed money for our two charities.
For 2010 there will be the European Coastal Challenge and unless the gremlins of Power Point are against me this is what it will entail. Mark please feel free to make motorcycle noises as the motorcycle on the screen moves around.
Play Power Point.
Also it is intended that during 2010 the Group will explore the possibility of having available to the members some sort enhanced rider training. We have the expertise within our numbers so we need to look at that aspect.
Fluorescent Vests.
Some of you may be aware that about 70 of our Group wear yellow fluorescent vest to make ourselves readily visible in today’s traffic and advertise the group. These vests came about due to BOB.
This is an in house joke.
If anyone can recall the Black adder series about the First World War and the sketch where a female joined the ranks impersonating a man.
Bob because of her size always gets called son at Petrol stations due to her short stature and because she does not take her helmet off.
Well Bob wore a florescent vest but had added the Groups Logo and name.
A local business man read about the groups exploits and was concerned for their safety whilst out in today’s traffic and donated 24 vests.
Then Kendra donated another 24.
A few weeks back I got a call from one of the group’s riders who takes part in our events and he had just received a bonus at work and rather than spend the money on himself decided that he would buy the Group another 30 fluorescent vest. These are not cheap and it is a fantastic gesture.
We have decided after consulting with our sponsor that we sell the vests at £5 in order to maintain a float to purchase new ones as and when. The vests are free to those that are not in employment and all we ask is that when they are re-employed, give us a fiver.
As well as donating the fluorescent yellow vests he donated a number of orange vests to readily identify ‘Tail End Charlie’ on our ride outs.
Ladies and gentlemen a big hand for our latest sponsor Malcolm Wright.
Santa Ride 2009
Our annual Santa Ride which is sponsored by John Simpson in aid of Zoë’s Baby Hospice will take place on Saturday 19th December 2009. The entry forms will be available on the web site in the next couple of days. The Open Top Double Decker Bus carrying local dignitaries and friends of the group has been booked and paid for by John.
This year Santa Ride will be amalgamated with the JT Memorial. John Toner was killed in 2007 by a drunken car driver whilst taking part in one of our events. John left an 18 month old baby son and a 12 year old daughter. We ran the JT Memorial ride in September for two years and all proceeds went to Zoë’s Baby Hospice.
As the Boundary 500 Motorcycle Group has grown and evolved it has became quite clear that there needs to be more time between events where we are asking members of the public for donations. There is only so much money in the pot. It has therefore been decided that the group will organise a major fund raising initiative once every six months. June for the Air Ambulance and December for Zoë’s Baby Hospice.
What we did do on the JT was also raise money for John’s family as a way of trying to help with the bills and show they are not forgotten.
To that end the entrance fee for the Santa Run will rise from six pounds to £10. The extra amount will be paid into a dependant’s fund. Riders will still get their Santa suit, bacon bun and a cuppa.
It has also been decided that those who are unemployed will be exempt from paying the entrance fee if they so wish.
The sponsorship amount that needs to be raised by each rider/pillion will be increased to £30.
I have mentioned Kendra and her family and I think it is also right that I mention Steve Futcher known to his friends as Wolfie who suddenly and without warning died of a heart attack. Wolfie had had a tough time prior to his death in that he became unemployed and then someone then nicked his beloved bike.
He was however turning his life around; he was back in employment and had just bought another bike. Indeed I only spoke to Wolfie and his wife Linda a couple of days before his death and there is a lesson for us all there. Every day is precious.
Brian to present the Flowers.
As a token of our affection could I please ask Kendra and Linda to receive some flowers from all your friends in The Boundary 500 Motorcycle Group?
As the Boundary Motorcycle Group grows and evolves what has become apparent is that social functions now play an important part in the groups running with a variety of events/ride-outs taking place.
Indeed one of the very pleasurable things about the Group is that I have met some fantastic people, all with positive ideals and there is a real community spirit.
Paul and I are arranging a foreign motorcycle trip for next year as so far 22 people have signed up.
We are leaving on Friday 25th June and returning on Sunday 4th July and travel to the area around Cochem on the River Mosel in Germany. For those not having motorcycled abroad before, it’s about 270 miles from the port of entry and is an idyllic region for the first holiday of this type.
Costs are being kept to a minimum. Further details can be obtained from either Paul or me.
Kendal Torchlight Parade.
Some of you will also be aware that earlier in this year I was contacted by the organisers of the Kendal Torchlight Parade an event that has been going on for some forty years. The Boundary Group were invited to take part and the organisers had agreed that 25% of Kendal would be given over to The Boundary Group to raise money from collecting tins and that those proceeds would go to, The Great North Air Ambulance. The Group were also asked to take part in the precession.
Our Cumbria representative Peter Thwaites along with Jim Martin took on the responsibility for arranging things and a great night was had by all and I understand we will be invited back again next year.
Well folks I am, you will be pleased to hear, coming to a close.
Prior to June 2006 The Boundary 500 Motorcycle Group had not raised one penny.
However since June 2006 the Group has now raised a minimum of;
Play Power Point Presentation. £243,306
What a fantastic achievement. It goes without saying that without your help and commitment this would not have been possible.
I would like to take this opportunity to thank you all, in particular Paul, Malcolm and Jacqui for their support and commitment because without it the Boundary 500 Motorcycle Group would not be the success it is today.
Finally a big thank you to you all, because without your support and commitment the Boundary 500 Motorcycle Group would not be the huge success that it is.
The presentation cheque is there for you all to use and I know some of your sponsors would like a photograph to place on notice boards etc.
I understand now we are having some kind of raffle, please enjoy the rest of the evening and thank you for your patience.
Also a last reminder about the ride out on Sunday, the meeting place is the petrol station A19/A689 leaving at 9am for the ride to Police HQ’s at Aykley Heads to support the Air Ambulance
Please enjoy the rest of the evening.
