A MOTORBIKE group in Colchester is setting off on a 100-mile charity ride to raise money for Children In Need. 

The Colchester Motorbike Group share not only a love for the open road and motorbikes but also a passion for giving back to the community. 

James Chambers, 27, who founded the group in January, has put a lot of work into organising a number of fundraisers and events and put together a special ride for the BBC Children in Need charity. 

He said: “I was inspired to do the ride for charity as when I created the group I have always wanted to do what we can to help charity and the community, earlier in the year I held an event called “Moto Fest” which raised money for another charity.

Organiser - James Chambers and Alice Simpson at the Moto Fest 2024 in aid of Essex and Herts Air AmbulanceOrganiser - James Chambers and Alice Simpson at the Moto Fest 2024 in aid of Essex and Herts Air Ambulance (Image: James Chambers)

“As the group founder, I am always looking for ways to help out others within the community and when I expressed my desire to do this for BBC Children In Need I had such a positive response from the group.” 

The group will set off on Saturday, November 9 at 10am starting in Colchester and covering a route along villages and towns in Essex and Suffolk. 

James said: “The ride will start in Colchester then go out to villages such as Halstead, Sudbury, Glemsford then onto Needham Market, Lawford and surrounding villages then returning to Colchester.” 

Group - The group is welcoming bikers of all agesGroup - The group is welcoming bikers of all ages (Image: James Chambers)

A dedicated fundraiser on JustGiving already reached its goal of raising £500 and has surpassed the target. 

The event has attracted a lot of interest, with more than 30 bikers confirmed to join the charity ride. 

Over the year the group has organised a number of funeral escorts and special drives for members of the Colchester community. 

The convoy will be accompanied by the Blood Bikes, part of the Essex Blood Runners, a voluntary organisation dedicated to delivering blood donations to patients in need across the county. 

Ride - The Colchester Motorbike Group is arranging regular days out and rides across EssexRide - The Colchester Motorbike Group is arranging regular days out and rides across Essex (Image: James Chambers)

For next year's fundraiser, the Colchester Motorbike Group has decided to support the Blood Bikes. 

James said: “We’re going to be using them next year as a close charity to our hearts and sponsoring for them at our Moto Fest 2025.” 

Charity - The Blood Runners will be part of the charity rideCharity - The Blood Runners will be part of the charity ride (Image: James Chambers)

Anyone interested in joining the group and the bike ride can join the Facebook group to get more information about the drive on November 9 and upcoming events and fundraisers.