10,000 Bikes!!

There is a small town in the west of the UK called Wootton Bassett that has become an un-official centre of respecting the UK war dead from the current conflict in Afghanistan. The town is near a military airbase where soldiers killed in the conflict are repatriated and the town is on the route for the hearses carrying the bodies of the dead from RAF Lyneham.

The mother of a soldier who died in an explosion in Afghanistan had the idea to set up a charity to provide support for those directly involved in the conflict. “Afghan Heroes” has been launched by a group of mothers with the aim of helping our service personnel directly on the front line. People have been holding fund-raising events and sending the proceeds to the Afghan Heroes organisation and one such event has caught the imagination of the biking community in the UK.

On Sunday 14th March, which is Mothers Day in the UK, there is a planned motorcycle ride through the town of Wootton Bassett to RAF Lyneham to show support for our troops fighting in Afghanistan. A special website was set up for bikers wishing to attend to register for the event and in just a few days, registrations reached 14,000 people on 10,000 bikes. I was one of those people that registered.

Due to the overwhelming support for this and in the knowledge that the town is very small, the organisers have had to suspend the registrations, but have said the event will go-ahead. I am trying to imagine what 10,000 bikes might look like – if the event goes ahead, I will take photos and let you know!