Emotional reunion for biker paramedics
Wednesday, 07 July, 2010
Emergency paramedics Mark Hayes, Steve Harris and Barry Rudge are all set to lead the Bike 4 Life ride out. (Photo supplied by Channel 5)
Motorcycle paramedics from West Midlands Ambulance Service (WMAS) will lead off the Bike 4 Life massed motorcycle ride out in aid of Midlands Air Ambulance on 25th July 2010.
Up to 1000 motorcycle enthusiasts are expected to join 'Bike 4 Life', which is being organised by Midlands Air Ambulance in association with the National Motorcycle Museum, Solihull, near Birmingham, and the M6 Toll operator, Midland Expressway Ltd and will cover 150 miles of the best road networks in the region.
And in what is sure to be an emotional twist to an exciting day, the event will see the WMAS motorcycle paramedics reunited with their former colleague, John Brown, for the first time since his own paramedic career was cut short following a road accident in 2005.
Now Grants & Legacies fund raising manager with Midlands Air Ambulance and a principle organiser for 'Bike 4 Life', John continues to ride a specially adapted motorbike and is looking forward to leading out the event with his old gang.
"We are so grateful to the West Midlands Ambulance Trust for all their support with Bike 4 Life," says John. "I still miss the excitement and comradeship as a bike paramedic with WMAS, so it will be really good to ride with Mark, Steve and Barry once again."
WMAS Motorcycle Paramedics Mark Hayes (38) Steve Harris (58) and Barry Rudge (50) combine 75 years service between them and will soon be stars of a new Channel 5 documentary showing them responding to 999 calls in Birmingham, which will be broadcast later this month.
Also joining Bike 4 Life from the corporate world are bike enthusiasts Tom Fanning, Chief Executive of Midland Expressway Ltd and Simon Turl, CEO of Roadchef.
"The response from the biking community as a whole has just been superb," John continues. "Volunteer riders are registering for Bike 4 Life on a daily basis, but we still have room for more, so any bikers out there with time on their hands on the 25th July, please come and support us. Every penny raised goes towards the Midlands Air ambulance and ultimately to saving lives."
Any one wishing to join 'Bike 4 Life' on 25 July can pre-register at:
www.midlandsairambulance.com/bike4life
via the Bike 4 Life facebook page, contact Midlands Air Ambulance event organiser Stef Langford-Brown on 0800 840 2040 or
email: bike4life@midlandsairambulance.com
