Bikers set for Wootton Bassett (From Swindon Advertiser)

Bikers set for Wootton Bassett

11:00am Wednesday 20th January 2010

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Thousands of bikers from across the country are planning a spectacular mass ride through Wootton Bassett on Mothers’ Day to honour the people of the town and the soldiers who have lost their lives in Afghanistan.

They will ride through the town on Sunday, March 14, and then gather at RAF Lyneham. Once there they will 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 biker Elizabeth Stevens, 18, 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 Leigh Delamere services on the east bound M4 before the mass ride through Wootton Bassett to RAF Lyneham at noon, where the fallen are repatriated into the UK.

Each rider will pay £5 and receive an 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 service personnel in theatre, families of the fallen and returning troops.

Denise Harris, whose son Corporal Lee Scott, 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.”

A Facebook Group – Bike Run in support of Wootton Bassett: Sunday 14th March 2010 – has been set up by Elizabeth Stevens, Daniel Forder and Julia Stevenson to co-ordinate the event.

Bikers who want to enter the RAF base are asked to register at www.afghanheroes.org.uk by February 15 for security reasons.

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