Boundary 500 bikers deliver Santa Ride donation to Zoe's Place hospice

Members visited Zoe’s Place Children’s Hospice where they handed over a cheque for £21,000 raised through the group’s annual Santa Ride.

The specialist hospice, based near Middlesbrough, has been facing tough financial challenges this year as the charity was forced to close two-nights a week meaning they would be unable to offer emergency respite for families.

• Zoe's Place in Middlesbrough announces events to raise vital cash

The organiser retired Police officer Brian Laverick said: “We have been running this event since 2006 and once again we are indebted to the people of the area for their generosity and support. This latest amount raised now means that since we started we as a Group have raised just under three hundred thousand Pounds for the Hospice.

“This is in addition to the four hundred thousand pounds for the Great North Air Ambulance. Alt-berg Boots at Richmond donate a £100 gift voucher to the two participants who raised the most amount of sponsorship.

The Boundary 500 Santa Ride

“In first place was June Lees who raised an incredible one thousand nine hundred and sixty five pounds and seventy five pence and in second place Sue Joyce with an excellent one thousand pounds.

“The Motorcycle Santa Ride has established itself as a major regional event and it could not take place without the support of the local authorities and in particular the support of The Cleveland Crime Commissioner Barry Coppinger and the Officers from Cleveland and Durham Police Forces.”

This year’s event will take place on Saturday, November 23 and entry forms will be released at the beginning of September.

And the charity's community fundraiser Rachael Bareham said: "At this time it is crucial that we bring in money and this generous donation is exactly what we need at the hospice.

"The group has always been a great supporter of ours and this will make such a difference at this time of year.

"We are currently closed two nights a week and that means that we are facing the prospect of having to turn families away when they need us the most."

The charity has also organised a number of challenge events including It’s a Knockout, The Yorkshire Three Peaks Challenge, The Ali Brownlee Riverside 5k and 2k fun run, the Great North Run and Zoë’s Place’s very own Tour De branch bike ride challenge.

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