Bikers 4 Macmillan Sunset to Sunrise Tour

By Angela Gooch on September 1st, 2009

UPDATE: This year’s Sunset to Sunrise event is sheduled for 19th June, 2010, when the Bikers 4 Macmillan will leave South Stack Lighthouse car park at 9.30pm, riding overnight to catch the sunrise over Skegness Beach at 4.15am.

Bikers 4 Macmillan, a fundraising group promoting cancer support through motor cycling events, were in Skegness over the Bank Holiday weekend collecting for Macmillan Cancer Care charity.

We caught up with chairman, Steve Freemantle, who told us that through a common interest in motorcycling, the group raises money for Macmillan Cancer Support.

Steve said “We are recognised as a fund raising group by Macmillan Cancer Support Charity and have permission to collect on their behalf.

“Last year we raised over £20k through an event called the Over 40s Ride, where a group of 10 motorcyclist visited every county in England and meeting the Mayor and Macmillan representatives from each county.

“This year we entered a new avenue in our fund raising events with the first of what we hope will become an annual event and the flagship event for our group.”

The most recent event, the flagship for the group, was the Sunset to Sunrise Tour, which involves riders setting off from Holyhead in North Wales, riding 240 miles through the night, arriving in Skegness in time to catch the Sunrise over the sea at 4am. The event raised over £750 for Macmillan Cancer Care.

Former Mayor of Skegness, Coun Brian O’Connor, welcomed the bikers, opening up the Boardwalk Cafe and treating them to bacon butties.

Brian O’Connor said “I’m happy to open the Boardwalk for these lads and give them free breakfasts. I don’t get up at 4am for many people but I’m happy to support these lads”.

Bikers 4 Macmillan are planning to do the Sunset to Sunrise tour again in June next year, and they hope to inflate their number to 500 bikers!

Picture: Chairman, Steve Freemantle (second left) and Coun Brian O’Connor (seated), along with members of the group.