Bonkers Bikers Back Birmingham Children’s Hospital

A band of enthusiastic amateur cyclists who rode more than 240 miles from London to Brussels have raised over £40,364 for Birmingham Children’s Hospital Charity. 

The group of cyclists, affectionately known as the ‘Bonkers Bikers’, was originally formed of colleagues from West Midlands Trains, including former Operations Director, Darren Ward, and over the last three years the group has evolved along with the rides and challenges they’ve tackled. This May, Darren came together with 10 other riders and four support crew to take on the ride from Waterloo in London to Waterloo in Brussels, in aid of the hospital. Joining Darren as riders were; Ange Steward, Nick Westcott, Steve Fisher, Martin Ward, Paul Williams, Michael Stokes, Anthony Miles, Chris Reid, Chris Rothwell and Sam Alexander; ably supported throughout by Samantha Rayment, Tamarin Giez, Marion Rayment and Gary Mullins-Downes. 

Around the same time, Darren announced his plans to retire from his position at West Midlands Trains but as he began to wind down, he saw an opportunity to use his skills and give the Bonkers Bikers’ fundraising a hefty boost. Instead of stepping away from work straight away, Darren chose to take a three-month position with rail freight logistics company, Freightliner Group, agreeing an innovative ‘work for charity’ contract which meant in exchange for Darren’s unpaid work, the company would donate £25,000 to Birmingham Children’s Hospital Charity. 

With Freightliner’s generous pledge in the bag, the Bonkers Bikers took to their saddles for their three-day self-funded ride to raise as much as they could for the charity. Supported by two hire vans and wearing charity branded red cycling jerseys provided by West Midlands Trains, the cycling chums enjoyed the views and the camaraderie as they pedalled their way to Belgium, raising a further £15,000 for Birmingham Children’s Hospital Charity between them. 

Darren said: “We’re absolutely over the moon with the amount we managed to raise for the hospital so special thanks from me and the Bonkers Bikers have to go to Freightliner Group for agreeing to the charity contract and making such an amazing contribution to our total. 

“I count myself extremely lucky that my family have never needed to use the Children’s Hospital but I know plenty of people that have. Having been shown around and seeing first-hand the incredible care that goes on there, along with the bikers and everyone at West Midlands Trains and Freightliner Group, I couldn’t be happier to be able to give something back.” 

Ellie Maybury, Philanthropy and Partnerships Executive at Birmingham Children’s Hospital Charity, said: “We’ve been lucky enough to have had the support of Darren and the Bonkers Bikers for a couple of their annual cycle rides now, but they’ve absolutely excelled themselves with this one! 

“Darren’s ‘work for charity’ contract is such an innovative idea and we can’t thank him enough for taking that leap to support our brave patients. The phenomenal £40,000 raised by Darren and the Bonkers Bikers will help us as we continue to do more for the 100,000 sick kids our hospital treats every year.”