Dean Billington, MD of Triton Telecom and Group Leader of Birmingham Central Breakfast led over 3.5k bikes as they travelled down the M54 last month. He goes on to explain just how this came about…
“I was involved in a serious life-threatening motorcycle accident in 2010, when my daughter Jessica was only 18 months old. I was rescued by West Midlands Air Ambulance and taken to the New QE hospital.
I’ve since supported them trying to repay them for saving me. Bike 4 Life is just one way I do this, I got back on a bike to do this event. There were three and a half thousand bikes at Meole Brace in Shropshire, the M54 is closed, and these bikes ride four abreast to RAF Cosford, where we have a festival. There’s a huge emphasis on rider safety. Every layby and bridge is lines with well-wishers waving the bikes on, all the way down the M54.
Every time the helicopter takes off, its close to three thousand pounds. They don’t get government funding and all of their applications for lottery funding have been declined. The Air Ambulance is an amazing charity, unlike other niche charities, they rescue everyone, from heating engineers to horseriders, from builders to bikers.
This year I was invited as a VIP, being a fellow rescuee, and got to meet Carl Foggarty and Steve Parrish, to name but two. It was Jess’ first motorcycle rally, and she was blown away.”
Great work Dean (and Jessica!) and everyone involved in this event. To learn more about Bike 4 Life, click here.
