More than 3,000 motorbikers took part in the 18th annual air ambulance charity motorcycle run to Harwich.
The Essex and Herts Air Ambulance Motorcycle Run, which sees bikers travel 60 miles from Ford Dunton to Harwich, took place on Sunday.
This year’s event saw more than 3,000 bikers take part, leaving in three groups from Dunton at 11am after being entertained by acrobatic parkour/free running group Team Kinetix.
They then headed to Harwich to be greeted by heaving crowds at the Harwich Family Fun Day.
The Family Fun Day hosted trade stands, including Colchester Kawasaki and Triumph, as well as fun games for all the family, a helicopter simulator, and live music from Lord Toffington.
The fun day also saw the first promotional outing of the charity’s newly-branded MD902 Explorer helicopter, which landed on the beach to allow the public to get up close and personal to their lifesaving air ambulance and the air crew inside it.
The crew included critical care paramedic Scott McIlwaine, pre-hospital care doctors Jordan Webbe and Ben Clarke, pilot Mark Holmes and co-pilot Will Hordley.
Jen Wall, Volunteer and Events Manager for Essex and Herts Air Ambulance, said: “Despite challenging weather, it was a brilliant turnout for the charity.
“This event has been running for eighteen years now, and the support continues to grow.
“Our relationship with the biker community is incredibly special, and it’s such a thrill to introduce new members of the community to this event every single year.
“Our events wouldn’t be possible without help, so a huge thank you goes to our headline sponsors the Woodland Group and SVC, as well as everyone who helped on the day – from our police escorts to parking volunteers.”
A spokeswoman for the charity said the funds raised from this event will be counted over the coming week.
The event normally raises in the region of £30,000. Last year’s even was attended by a bumper 5,000 bikers, after the day was blessed with perfectly sunny weather.
• For more information about Essex and Herts Air Ambulance and their events, visit www.ehaat.org
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