Local motorcycle club ride out for NAWT
On the 14th of April, we were delighted to welcome a motorcycle club named ‘Baphomet Brotherhood’ to our Berkshire centre after an epic 45-mile ride out. Paul, aka ‘Twirly’, organised the event on a mission to help raise vital funds for our centre. We caught up with him as he tells us all about the event, what inspired him to organise it, and how much they raised.
Please tell us a bit about yourself.
My name's Paul, I also go by 'Twirly', and I'm part of a motorcycle club called the 'Baphomet Brotherhood'. It is part of a group called the 'Thames Valley Coalition' and together we go on rides, enjoy the roads, and raise money for various charities.
Please do tell us more about Baphomet Brotherhood, where are you based, and how did you all meet?
Baphomet Brotherhood started when a group of friends with likeminded interests in motorcycles decided to form a club, and it’s now in its 11th year still going strong. Based in Newbury, we have members from near and far. We meet up once a week for a social, few drinks, play pool, chat, and chill out with mates.
What made you decide to help raise money for us?
The National Animal Welfare Trust is a local charity to me. We noticed that the bigger charities get a huge amount of funding, but smaller charities struggle more. We thought it would be a nice idea to try and raise funds for a smaller charity. As bikers, we love animals, many of our members have dogs, cats or some kind of animal at home.
Please tell us about the event.
We put on an event which was a 45-mile motorcycle ride combined with a raffle, we named it 'Twirly’s NAWTy old dogs run'. Every good run needs a name, adds to the fun. We had 93 motorcycles, and 3 trikes attend. We also joined up with a small outfit called 'Bikerpics', who set up on the roadside to capture images as we passed.
Where did the event take place?
We set off just South of Newbury, where we are based. A total of 93 bikes set off towards our mid stop in Andover at a pub for a drink, a stretch of the legs, and we set off again. We then headed for The National Animal Welfare Trust in Berkshire where we stopped and held our raffle. At the end of the day, the staff let people see the animals and have a walk around.
How long did it take you to complete the 45 miles?
The ride took about 3 hours in total from start to finish, with a stop mid-way. Despite a few mishaps, it was a smooth journey and enjoyed by all.
How much did you raise?
Our total on the day, combined with over-the-counter sales, and a generous donation from Bikerpics… the grand total is £1,770.
What other events have you done for our charity?
Like most motorcycle clubs, we do a lot for charity. We have supported children’s charities in the past, including Easter egg runs and Christmas runs, both an occasion to dress up for, such as Santa.
Do you have any plans for the future?
Later this year we are holding our own event, another ride, but in memory of fallen members, friends, and family. Also, with our Coalition we shall be holding events to raise money for our friends in 'Baca' (bikers against child abuse).
We also have other charities to come. We will be taking part in the Reading Santa Run at Christmas and will be going to several charity events throughout the year.
We want to say a massive thank you to the fundraising superheroes Twirly, the Baphomet Brotherhood, and all the riders who took part. Not only did they raise a staggering amount of money for us, but they also turned up with donations for our animals too. We must say, seeing all the motorcycles roll up to our centre was mind-blowing.
Thank you so much to everyone who showed up, and to Twirly for bringing it all together. See below some photographs from the day that the team kindly shared with us.
Are you inspired to create a fundraising event for your local centre? Get in touch today.