Biking quartet raise over £40,000 for charity with Triumph backed tour

Four air traffic controllers have completed a 3000-mile trip from Aberdeen to Gibraltar raising thousands for two charities along the way on ride they have dubbed The Big Tour, 24 in 24’. 

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The quartet of biking mates, who elected to visit all 24 NATS and NATS Solutions air traffic control units in the UK and Europe, reached the Europe’s Mediterranean coast on April 25, before returning to home turf on April 30. 

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In doing so, the group bagged £31,360 for Prostate Cancer UK and a further £9079 for Aerobility (at the time of writing), although donation channels will remain open until the Aviators’ Ball in November.  

Wayne Clarke, one of the riders involved said: “It was hard and easy in equal measure. We had biblical rain in Northern Ireland, it was scary at times. But then in Spain the roads were incredible.” 

Alongside Clarke, Richard Fell, Harvey McVicar, and Shaun Bellairs-Wray were the other riders involved int the tour, with support from Triumph UK, who provided the group with new Triumph Tiger 1200, Tiger 900 GT Pro, and Tiger Sport 660 adventure touring bikes for the occasion. 

“The money raised is fantastic,” Clarke said. “It’s going to provide three flying scholarships for disabled people, which will enable them to fly solo and the rest goes to prostate Cancer UK, which is going straight into research for early detection and a screening program.” 

Clarke explained how the decision to support Prostate Cancer UK came about: “I lost a friend to the disease in May last year. He basically took ill during lockdown one in 2020 and by the time they caught it, it was stage four.” 

The team also have personal ties to Aerobility, with Shaun Bellairs-Wray informing MCN that he has supported the charity continually over the last 12 years. 

Support was also offered from a range of other organisations, including Arai, Cardo and Airhawk, among others. To raise further funds, the group will also be auctioning off an Arai Tour-X5 that has been signed by various motorcycle racers including John McGuinness and James Hillier, as well as TV personalities such as Charley Boorman and Henry Cole.

The stunt team from the James Bond film No Time To Die will also be adding their signatures to the lid, which will be available for the right price later in the year. 

Visit 24in24.co.uk for more.