15.000 Bikers At Wootton Bassett Raise over £150.000 at Mothers Day Bikers Event 2010

With hundreds of soldiers killed in Afghanistan and MoD figures showing that in the month of July 2009 alone there were 94 injuries associated with the war in Afghanistan, the time is right for a charity dedicated to the welfare of those directly involved in the conflict.

The mother of a soldier who died in an explosion in Afghanistan in July had the idea to set up a charity to provide support for those directly involved in the conflict.

Afghan Heroes has been launched by a group of mothers with the aim of helping our service personnel directly on the front line; the families of those who have fallen and our returning service personnel who have witnessed these horrific losses of their fellow comrades.

Afghan Heroes is independent of other charities. It deals specifically with members of the British forces and their families that have been affected by the military operations in Afghanistan now and into the future. The intention is to operate until a minimum of five-years from the cessation of our military presence in Afghanistan.

Afghan Heroes will deliver support through:

The thank a soldier initiative.
The provision of home comforts to those serving in Afghanistan.
Motivational and morale boosting support directly to our forces on the front line via your letters and news letters.
A support network for the families of the fallen, creating an open environment where families can give support to each other.
Supporting the many returning soldiers who have witnessed these horrific atrocities in the course of performing their duties.

Bikers To Honour Afghan Heroes On Mothers Day
Thousands of bikers from throughout the country are planning a spectacular mass ride through Wootton Bassett in Wiltshire on Mothers Day to honour the people of Wootton Bassett and the soldiers who have lost their lives in Afghanistan.
They are expected to ride through the Wiltshire town on Sunday March 14 and then gather on the runway at RAF Lyneham. They will there hand over funds raised for the Afghan Heroes charity set up last September by a group of mothers who lost their sons in Afghanistan.

The idea came from 18-year-old biker Elizabeth Stevens, who planned a ride with just a few friends, but has now had pledges from motorcycling groups throughout the country that they want to take part in the ride.

The bikers will descend on Wiltshire from throughout the UK and gather at the Leigh Delamere services on the M4 (Junction 17 eastbound) before the mass ride through Wootton Bassett to RAF Lyneham at 12 noon where the fallen were repatriated into the UK.

Each rider will pay £5 (on the day) and receive a special commemorative Afghan Heroes wristband, which will be their entry pass to the RAF base.

All proceeds raised from the ride will go to the Afghan Heroes charity, which helps our service personnel in theatre, families of the fallen and our returning troops.

Denise Harris, whose son Corporal Lee Scott, aged 26, lost his life in an explosion last July, said: To have so many people thinking of us on Mothers Day is just astonishing and overwhelming and it will be very emotional to see so many bikers showing their support to the people of Wootton Bassett and for our boys and Girls.
I believe everyone at the RAF base is also pleased that so many people want to pay their respects to the fallen and to Wootton Bassett for everything they have done, and with people saying they will ride from North Wales, Derbyshire, Yorkshire and the South East they decided to open the gates so that the bikers had somewhere to gather. We will be proud to accept the funds raised at the air base.

Classical singer Tim Pitman will sing the specially composed song Fields of Green which he recorded to raise funds for Afghan Heroes at the RAF Lyneham gathering.

A Facebook Group called Bike Run in support of Wootton Bassett: Sunday 14th March 2010 has been set up by the organisers Elizabeth Stevens, Daniel Forder and Julia Stevenson. to co-ordinate the event. All bikers who wish to take part and enter the RAF base are asked to register by going to www.afghanheroes.org.uk by 15th February for security reasons.
RAF Lyneham cannot take any responsibility for Bikes, Bikers or accidents while on the base.
We in the biker world do not see a colour or race bar, we are in this together PERIOD. DO NOT POST RACIST COMMENTS ON THIS OR ANY OTHER VIDEO OF MINE REGARDING THE BIKER CULTURE, I WILL BLOCK YOU. We bikers come in all shapes and sizes, all creeds and colours, thats what makes us different. Any questions about our culture are welcome although i do reserve the right no to talk about particular club issues.

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