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Bikers ride to fundraising success for St Teresa's hospice
Howard Lake | 26 June 2006 | Newswire
Motorbike stunt rider Dave Coates has joined forces with members of Durham Constabulary’s motorbike division to help raise much needed funds for St Teresa’s Hospice.
Dave, who currently holds the world record for riding his bike at 151.7 miles per hour while facing backwards, nominated St Teresa’s as a beneficiary of the police force’s ‘Bike Wise’ show, which aims to promote bike safety and raise awareness of motorcycle-related crimes, including theft.
All proceeds raised during the annual event, which regularly attracts up to 14,000 visitors, are divided between a number of local charities and this was the first time that Dave was able to nominate his own deserving cause to receive a donation.
Dave, who has been performing voluntarily at the Durham Constabulary’s bike show for several years, immediately nominated St Teresa’s Hospice in Darlington, where both his stepfather and his aunt had stayed as guests.
The Hospice, which offers palliative and respite care services free of charge to people within South Durham and North Yorkshire, depends almost entirely on voluntary donations and the £500 raised during the ‘Bike Wise’ show will now be used to help fund these services, including at-home care, counselling and complementary therapies.
Dave Coates, said: My wife Sandra and I have been stunt riding for more than seven years and in the last 12 months have performed at more than 20 European shows. These achievements mean a lot to both of us but it is still so special to be able to perform within the local area.
As soon as I was given the opportunity to nominate a charity, I had no hesitation in selecting St Teresa’s Hospice, as they were so kind to my family when my auntie and my stepfather became ill.
Anyone who has had an involvement with the Hospice will know how important their work is and I am delighted that I was able to help in this way.â€
St Teresa’s Hospice Director, Jane Bradshaw, said: I would like to say a huge thank you to Dave and the members of the Durham Constabulary bike team for their kind generosity and wish Dave the very best of luck with his future stunt performances.â€
About Howard Lake
Howard Lake is consultant editor of UK Fundraising. He founded the site in 1994 and successfully sold it in 2022. As director of Giving X Ltd he is exploring growing giving on a massive scale.
He is the founder of Fundraising Camp and co-founder of GoodJobs.