Brian Laverick has moved from protecting top politicians to raising thousands of pounds for charity. Lucy Richardson hears how the former bodyguard used his passion for motorcycles for fundraising.

A FORMER bodyguard with a passion for motorcycles is still helping to save lives. His fervent fundraising, which has turned into a fulltime job, is a far cry from his previous incarnation as an armed protection officer with Cleveland Police to two of the country’s most high-profile cabinet ministers.

Since the Boundary 500 Motorcycle Group was launched, Brian Laverick has helped the Great North Air Ambulance (GNAA) service and Zoe’s Place baby hospice by raising nearly £250,000 in three years.

Previously, he co-ordinated the protection of Mo Mowlam and Peter Mandelson, who were both Secretary of State for Northern Ireland during time in their respective Redcar and Hartlepool constituencies during the 1990s.

“Were they ever in real danger? You can never say never. It’s not about the person, it’s about their position,” he says.

“Mo was a very approachable individual, very tactile. Peter was known as the Prince of Darkness, but he was articulate and a perfect gentleman. He was always concerned about the welfare of the other officers.”

After Ms Mowlam retired from politics at the 2001 General Election he accompanied her around the country on the book tour for her novel Momentum.

“One of the reasons we got on so well is because humour was so important. We used to have a real laugh. Humour is a big part of my life, it is as essential as a motorcyclist’s tool kit.”

Mr Laverick, 58, retired nine years ago after a varied career, including 22 years in the force’s road traffic unit where he was in charge of the motorcycle section. A newspaper article mentioning someone he knew from work who’d been seriously injured in a helicopter crash sparked an idea for his new venture.

In January 2006, the crew of the Cumbria Air Ambulance were on a climbing holiday in Scotland when Dr Rupert Bennett fell to his death.

Pilot Jim Martin, who had flown the Cleveland Police helicopter and was a keen motorcyclist, suffered life-threatening injuries and paramedic Jon Kerr received serious hand wounds.

“In a flash, the entire crew of a helicopter was wiped out,” he explains. “I had always thought that the GNAA received Government funding and when I realised it didn’t, I knew I had to do something to help.”

The Boundary 500 Motorcycle Group – referring to the circumference around the GNAA’s three catchment areas in miles – was born and the first Boundary 500 Challenge was staged in June 2006.

The event attracted 134 motorcyclists, who were asked to raise £30 each with an expected return of £4,000. Mr Laverick, from Ingleby Barwick, near Stockton, was staggered when it raised £33,000.

The following year’s event was an even bigger financial success and a new event, the Boundary Classic, was added.

However, it was marred by tragedy when father- of-two John Toner, 39, was knocked down on his motorbike and killed by a drunk driver minutes from the end of the fundraising ride.

The Teesside GNAA helicopter has been dedicated to Mr Toner who left a wife, a 12-year-old daughter and an 18-month-old son.

“I wanted to pack it all in after John’s death, but people said ‘you must carry on’,” Mr Laverick recalls. “The group is like a family and the people are fantastic. It’s not ‘what’s in it for me’, it’s all about ‘how can I help?’.”

Challenges have included a marathon ride around the coastline of England, followed by the international ride across Europe. Next year the benchmark is raised even higher with the European Coastal Challenge, spurring bikers on to cover 7,500 miles in 28 days.

During 2007 and last year, the Boundary 500 – which has a nucleus of about 80 enthusiasts from across the region – raised more than £100,000 for the GNAA.

As the single-biggest fundraiser for the air ambulance, the Boundary 500 motif will soon appear on all three of its helicopters covering Teesside, Northumbria and Cumbria. “The money has enabled them to fly at least 100 missions.

How many lives has that saved?” he says.

AType 1 diabetic, Mr Laverick consciously decided not to raise money for the illness in case people felt sorry for him. Instead, he chose the Zoe’s Place baby hospice, in Normanby, near Middlesbrough, one of only two centres in the country exclusively caring for young children with life-limiting conditions.

Receiving little Government assistance, it costs about £800,000 a year to run the specialist facility catering for infants from birth to five years old.

The first Santa Ride in aid of the hospice, in 2006, raised £1,500, growing to an impressive £26,000 last year. The annual spectacle of more than 200 “Santa” bikers now attracts streets lined with wellwishers.

“At Christmas everyone want the latest things, but all kids at Zoe’s Place want to do is breathe and live,” he says. “We can’t give them the gift of life, but we can make sure that for the time they’re with us, they want for nothing.”

He’s convinced the charity will smash the £250,000 mark for the two charities by the end of the year. “We’re responsible people enjoying our pastime and raising money for people in the local community,” he says.

“I don’t know any group like us in the country that has raised so much money in such a short space of time. It’s truly remarkable.”

The 2009 Santa Ride is open to all motorcyclists and takes place on December 19. The £10 entrance fee includes a Santa suit, bacon butty and a hot drink. Each rider and pillion is expected to raise a minimum of £30 in sponsorship.

The 22-mile journey starts at Thornaby fire station and visits Stockton, Middlesbrough and Redcar, finishing at Kirkleatham Hall.

For more information and to download an application form, go to boundary500.co.uk