we are currently on the lookout for bands for forthcoming events & are taking applications.  However, before you apply please read the notes below which also appear on our forum.

I get quite a few emails from bands asking if they can perform at one of the events or from people suggesting bands to play at an Egg or Toy run event.

Before you email to ask if your band (or a band you know) can play at any of our future events please read the following.

Now for the very important bit
* Remember these events are for charity.. We always select bands primarily on the basis of who are willing to do the performance for no financial gain & who can put on a good professional performance that reflects well on the charity – so if you are hoping to earn a fortune from doing an Egg/Toy run gig or simply looking for self promotion, you may as well not read any further.
Simple answer is we always strive to keep a good family friendly atmosphere.  Plus of course would prefer our fundraising efforts to go to worthwhile causes rather than into the pocket of some money grabbing band or entertainment agent.
We understand that a lot of people in the entertainment world will do their share of charity work or unpaid work to help get themselves established, to polish their skills or simply for self promotion, especialy when starting out or after a rebranding process, so please don’t think we are being harsh.  Other bands have done the events for nothing & of course your band will potentially gain from the performance in other ways.   Besides, the charity commitee, marshals & the volunteers don’t get paid, so why should a band?
We stopped the bands once before because they demanded high fee’s, we don’t want to have to repeat the trend!

Here comes the science part…
* Even though we ask you to do the gig for free, We don’t mind paying expenses (such as travel, cost of replacing guitar strings etc) & we are always willing to buy a round of drinks to keep your costs to a minimum.  We will also provide the PA (where possible) any lighting & a compere, but you need to provide the instruments & singing talent.

* Usually we will not headline unknown bands – if this is your 1st ever gig & you are looking for a high-profile gig to put onto your CV to gain notability we want to hear you perform 1st. (see the point below), if you impress us enough though, we may well book you.

* Ideally we would like to see & hear you perform 1st, for this purpose we would like to see you perform live.. you can’t get an idea of “stage presence” from a CD / taped recording or from a few songs on a MySpace page, so for this reason we would like to see you in a live environment or if that is not possible in a rehearsal room.  Don’t forget to send us the tickets of course.

* Remember these events are for Children’s charity events & are family orientated so we don’t want any bands that swear, sing abusive songs or resort to smut as part of the performance – as much as we may like them, on the day of the events this type of behaviour is inappropriate.

* All decisions regarding bands & who gets booked are overseen by the chairman & his decision is final.  If your band wants to be considered, please contact the chairman direct by phone or in writing (details on contact page) & include the final details of any upcoming gigs or shows you may be performing. If you have been unsucessful this time, remember there is always next year.

As chairman of the Star Bikers Charity Committee I would like to thank everyone who helped make this year’s 32nd Egg Run, held on March 21, a great day out.

Thanks to the rest of my newly–formed committee for its hard work in helping at this year’s event.

The committee would also like to thank Staffordshire Police motorcyclists and car drivers and our own volunteer marshals. They kept everyone safe and moving between the start at Britannia Stadium and end at King’s Hall. Thank-you to both these venues for their continued support. To the Lord Mayor of Stoke-on-Trent who I know had a great time leading the run. Special thanks must again go to the local motorcycle shops for their generosity when donating prizes for our free draw. These were Bassetts, Bikerz, BS Bikes, D H Autos, Foley Motorcycles, K2, Norman and Birch, and Websters. Thanks to Andy’s Motorcycles and Trent Trophies. Thank-you once again to the Sentinel for its support.This year we also had some support from Sainsbury’s stores at Stoke, Newcastle and Hanley which had collection points for people to donate Easter eggs. We have also had some donations from people that have organised collection points at their place of work. If anyone would like to do the same for future events if you contact the Star Bikers Charity at www.stokebikeruns.co.uk we can let you have some posters.

Another good point on the day was the number of people who came to stand at the side of the road to give their support. It would be fantastic if we could see each and everyone of you for this year’s 33rd Toy Run. Watch out in the Sentinel closer to December or check our website www.stokebikeruns.co.uk.

ANTONY MIDDLETON

We would like to pass on huge thanks to Staffordshire Police, and all our own volunteer marshals for keeping everyone safe & ensuring the parade went smoothly, thanks also to the Britannia Stadium & the Kings Hall for their continued help & support in the staging of the event.

Thanks must also go to the Lord Mayor of Stoke-on-Trent & again go out to the motorcycle shops for their generosity when donating prizes for our free draw which takes place inside the Kings Hall. They were Bassett’s, Bikerz, B S Bikes, D H Autos, Foley Motorcycles, K2, Norman & Birch, and Websters. Thanks to Andy’s Motorcycles and Trent Trophies who support the awards & trophies.

Thank you once again to the local media for its support in coverage of the run in the lead up and coverage of the day itself.

The biggest thanks  though go to everybody who turned out to make the event a success.  Plus of course we can’t forget the generous people from Sainsbury’s who supported the Toy run this year.

You can see a video feature from BBC Midlands today, by clicking the link below..
BBC News – The Star Bikers Toy Run gathers presents for underprivileged children

“Thousands of bikers swapped their leathers for Santa suits to join in the annual Star Bikers Toy Run.”

“The event, which takes place in the streets of Stoke-on-Trent, sees Santas on motorbikes collecting donations of toys and Christmas presents”

“The presents are then given to Newcastle-under-Lyme social services to distribute to families of underprivileged children.”

“Organisers say the recession hasn’t affected peoples generosity. “

Don’t forget collections are still taking place in local Sainsbury’s stores if you still wish to donate toys to the appeal.

The stores in Stoke, Newcastle & Hanley are once again holding a collection for the Star Bikers charity, so if you wish you can also now donate an Easter Egg to the appeal by placing it into the collection hopper located in the store.

Sainsbury’s will be holding collections until 28th March 2010.

On the 28th February The Star Bikers held a charity bag-packing at Sainsbury’s in Stoke between 10am-4pm, to help raise funds for the Egg run Appeal, this helped The Star Bikers charity raise nearly £500 on the day.

We are also looking for anyone that is willing to attend to help out the bikers with the bag-packing  & fundraising duties in the future, if you can offer your assistance or wish to help on the day, please let us know.

Participating stores are located at.

Sainsbury’s Stoke on Trent
Minton House
London Road
Stoke on Trent
ST4 7QD
Telephone: 01782 747090

Sainsbury’s Newcastle Under Lyme
10-16 Liverpool Road
Newcastle
Staffs
ST5 2AP
Telephone: 01782 623663

If you wish you can also visit the Sainsbury’s website, however buying your shopping online will not go towards the appeal.

Big thanks also go to Sainsbury’s for their assistance with the Toy run appeal & the participating stores that helped with collections.

This Stall is to help promote the charity as well as sell merchandise, sell/raffle items donated from bike shops to help raise money for the charity & for people to ask questions etc. 

The stall will be located in Newcastle High St near to NatWest & the old Woolworths store from 9am onwards..  see you there.

The merchandise is overseen in a different location to the upkeep of the website, so unfortunately I’m not aware of the situation or able to advise further.

I can only apologise for the situation & say there must be a reason such as a problem with a supplier or, because the Egg run was more successful than any of us had realised & merchandise was selling in high numbers compared to recent years, the increased number of re-orders have lead to a delay.

If anyone has any questions or concerns about late or unsent badges or merchandise, please call Ant on (01782) 414831.

I feel i must point this out – I’m still waiting on a badge myself, usually I’m the last person to get a badge as the customer always comes 1st!

If you like / don’t like the new layout, or have spotted bugs or are errors, please let me know by clicking here

The eggs were collected by thousands of bikers during last month’s Star Bikers Egg Run. The annual scheme helps vulnerable and disadvantaged children across the city. This year saw 2,834 Easter eggs and 71 toys go to worthy homes.

Councillor Mohammed Pervez, Stoke-on-Trent City Council deputy elected mayor and political spokesman for children and young people’s services, said: “Every year the bikers turn out in their thousands to help city children. It is pleasing to see that there is so much support in the community for this good cause. If it wasn’t for all of the bikers and residents’ kind donations it would never be possible to reach out to so many city children.”

On Sunday, March 22, the Star Bikers were joined by more than 2,000 local riders to collect the Easter gifts which were then given out.