Chairmans Letter.

Letter as published in the Stoke Sentinel.. 02/04/2010

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

Thank you

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.

Sainsbury’s & the Star Bikers

This Easter, the Star Bikers are once again
teaming up with our friends at Sainsbury’s.

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.

Star Bikers at Newcastle Carnival

The Star Bikers will have a Stall at Newcastle carnival on Bank-Holiday Monday, 25th May 2009.

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.

Badges & Merchandise

Recently I’ve been getting a lot of emails about badges or merchandise that have not been delivered or are arriving later than planned..

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!

NEW LOOK WEBSITE

If you are a regular visitor to the site, you will of course noticed, the new look layout to the site.

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

3,000 eggs for children

NEARLY 3,000 Easter eggs and toys have been distributed to city children in time for the weekend.

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.

Thanks for Egg Run success

AS CHAIRMAN of the Star Bikers Charity Committee I would like to thank everyone that helped make this year’s Egg Run a great day out.
I would like to start by thanking the rest of my newly formed committee for their hard work in helping to organise and promote this year’s event, giving both time and effort to make it all possible.
The Star Bikers Charity Committee would also like to pass on a few thanks to Staffordshire Police’s motorcyclists and car driver, and all our own volunteer marshals. They kept everyone moving and safe between the start at Britannia Stadium and end at the King’s Hall. Thank you to both of the aforementioned venues for their continued support in the staging of the event.
Thanks also go to the Lord Mayor of Stoke-on-Trent who I know had a great time leading the run. Special thanks must again go out to the motorcycle shops for their generosity under today’s financial pressures 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 always donate the trophies for best bike, etc. Thank you once again to The Sentinel for its support in advertising the run in the lead up and coverage of the day itself. Thanks to everybody who displayed our posters.
Another good point on the day apart from the number of bikes, scooters, quads, etc, actually on the run, was the number of people who came to stand at the side of the road to give their support, many of whom handed over Easter eggs as the run went past. I would just like to say how grateful we are to everybody who donated to the event, be it with time and effort, Easter eggs or cash donations.
 It is all received with the utmost gratitude. We could not do it without you.
Just one last note, I know it might be a bit colder by then, but it would be fantastic to see each and everyone of you for this year’s 32nd Toy Run. Watch out in The Sentinel closer to December or check our web site. www.stokebikeruns.co.uk.
ANTONY MIDDLETON (Committee Secretary)
Stoke-on-Trent