Ride Aid charity motorbikers return home after 1,700 mile trip

Oct 26 2009 by Sam Wood, The Journal

MOTORBIKE enthusiasts arrived back in the region yesterday after a mammoth journey to raise vital funds for a local hospital.

Paul O’Callaghan and David Hall, who own the Harley Davidson and Buell dealership in Sandyford, Newcastle, were joined by six friends to ride more than 1,700 miles in three days.

As part of the Ride Aid fundraising campaign they were bidding to raise £25,000 for the Breast Clinic Fund at the city’s Royal Victoria Infirmary. So far they have raised £14,500 The group rode from Newcastle to Land’s End via John O’Groats in just one weekend. They were led back on the final leg from Scotch Corner by 80 members of the Harley Owners Group (HOG).

At the finish line outside the Malmaison in Newcastle’s Quayside David said: “It feels great to have finished it. We had some great support from people along the way and from the HOG members when we got back. It was a fabulous experience.

“We faced some challenges along the way including torrential downpours and every type of weather except snow. But we all made it back in one piece.” In order to complete the distance the group were in the saddle for about up to 15 hours a day after setting off on Friday morning.