Help those who help us - support a charity in 2023

Times are tough for all of us right now. As I write this, I’ve got two jumpers on and a pair of fingerless gloves, determined not to move the thermostat dial up a single notch.

However, it’s not just households that are feeling the financial pinch, with motorcycling charities desperate for donations to continue to provide essential support to the British biking community.

This New Year, MCN is calling upon riders to help in any way they can, be it through donations, volunteering or even sharing some awareness, to support these services through the current crisis. This includes Air Ambulance charities, who rely on donations to provide airborne medical assistance 24 hours a day. The Lincolnshire and Nottinghamshire
Air Ambulance (ambucopter.org.uk) alone have assisted around 85 motorcyclists during 2022.

Costing £8 million to keep running each year, the service receives no direct government or NHS funding. The team typically respond to four incidents per day.

But it’s not just medical movements in need of a hand. Talan Skeels-Piggins founded The Bike Experience (tbe2011.com) back in 2011 and has since helped over 400 people with disabilities to either ride again, or for the first time. Born out of Talan’s own motorcycle accident that left him paralysed from the chest down, the group has struggled since the onset of the pandemic – with many users classed as clinically vulnerable.

Having had to sell much of their equipment, they are effectively starting again in 2023. “I’ve never charged any of the riders to come. When I was paralysed people said you could try this or that but it costs a significant amount of money – and I didn’t have any money,” Talan said.

“When you take into account the extra money it takes to adapt a house, the cost of wheelchairs and everything, you’re not left with any spare and you’re struggling to work due to the disability.”

Donations can be made to the group online (justgiving.com/thebikeexperience) with the money going towards new riding kit and specially adapted motorcycles.

“We want to take the bikes to hospitals, spinal units and those that specialise in amputees and show them the bike I ride,” he added.

“It’s important because it gives people something to look forward to. When you have a big accident and you’re going through this big change in your life, sometimes all you see is darkness.”

Elsewhere, UK Blood Bike charities are also in need of help during the year ahead.

“There’s only so much money to go around,” Chair of the National Association of Blood Bikes (NABB), Michael Clark said.

“We are facing the same cost of living crisis as every business and household.”

Volunteer Blood Bikers transport blood, platelets, samples, surgical instruments, donor milk and more across the UK and Ireland. The NABB are encouraging people to donate to their local group, which can be found on their website.
Clark added: “Each group operates accordingly to their region’s needs. Donations could go towards motorcycles, deliveries, the day-to-day running costs, the fuel, the insurance and so on.”