THOUSANDS of bikers have helped raise more than £116,000 to keep the lifesaving Midlands Air Ambulance Charity in the skies.

The 2023 Bike4Life Ride Out saw 3,500 motorbikes ride in convoy for 23 miles between Meole Brace, Shrewsbury, to one of the charity’s three operational airbases at RAF Cosford.

Thousands of motorcyclists and pillion riders took part and attended the Bike4Life Festival, which was held in late April.

Redditch Advertiser: Thousands of bikers took part in the 2023 Bike4Life event to raise funds for the Midlands Air Ambulance CharityThousands of bikers took part in the 2023 Bike4Life event to raise funds for the Midlands Air Ambulance Charity (Image: Midlands Air Ambulance Charity)

The event, which was sponsored by The Bike Insurer, was the most successful to date and will help to fund 72 future lifesaving missions - 36 air ambulance and 36 critical care car call outs.

It was supported by a host of famous VIPs including Carl Fogarty MBE – one of the most successful world superbike racers; British former professional motorcycle and truck racer, and television commentator Steve Parrish; engineer and custom motorcycle builder Allen Millyard; former UK Special Forces soldier Ollie Ollerton from Channel 4's hit TV series SAS: Who Dares Wins; motorbiking social media influencer RubyRides; and TV’s Emergency Bikers - Mark Hayes and Steve Harris.

Redditch Advertiser: L-r - Bike4Life VIPs Carl Fogarty MBE and Ollie Ollerton at this year's eventL-r - Bike4Life VIPs Carl Fogarty MBE and Ollie Ollerton at this year's event (Image: Midlands Air Ambulance Charity)

Emma Gray, chief operating officer for the Midlands Air Ambulance Charity which is based in Lye, Stourbridge, said: “Since its humble beginnings in 2010 as a small ride out, Bike4Life has grown in popularity and support, and we have now reached a record number of riders, festival goers and lifesaving missions funded by the event.

“Road traffic collisions made up a third of the incidents our clinical crew attended in 2021, and sadly a great number of these involve motorcyclists in time critical need of rapid, advanced clinical intervention.”

She added: “We are truly grateful for the support shown by the biker community at Bike4Life and are truly amazed by their kindness and generosity, which has helped fund future missions for our rapid response, pre-hospital service.”