 OK,
so it's a terrible headline.
But hey - I found out about this at short notice and it's
late in the evening after a long day. There's also a vague
point to it.
BMAD.
Bikers Make A Difference. The brainchild of Kelvin Halloran,
BMAD is a bikers organisation with a difference. Kelvin has
two disabled children and is a full time carer. But that hasn't
stopped him being a biker as well. A regular visitor to Poole
Quay in Dorset, he was coming home one night when a thought
struck him. Paignton, in neighbouring Devon, has a mile of
promenade that is closed to traffic in the summer. It's also,
by coincidence, where Kelvin and his family live. Having seen
how popular the Poole nights are, and how good they are for
biking locally, Kelvin figured that there was room for another.
But to get all the permits and everything he needed an organisation.
And thus BMAD was born.
Because they're not just about getting
together, showing off their bikes and having a laugh. Though
there's a fair bit of that, it's fair to say. No, BMAD do
make a difference. They raise money for charities. Initially
for charities that matter to Kelvin and his family - Sick
and Disabled Children and Their Families, a Torbay charity
- but then as the thing grew they raised money for charities
that should matter to all of us. St John's Ambulance and Devon
Air Ambulance, for example. And not just a couple of quid,
either, they raise thousands of pounds every year.
Kelvin went to Torbay Council with
an idea for a regular meet, took film of the Poole meetings,
insurance details and so on. The council, to their credit,
saw this as a potentially Good Thing and so, with the full
support of Devon and Cornwall Police and Torbay Council the
Paignton Bike Meet started. For the last three years, every
Wednesday from June to September there's a mile of parked
bikes on Paignton Seafront, and an air of bonhomie and general
peace and calm. There's no trouble, and the event is now the
largest regular gathering of bikes and bikers in the South
West. 
Last year they went a step further
and organised a festival for a long weekend. Three days of
bikes, stalls, beer (of course) and rock music (of course
again). The staggering success of the 2005 festival prompted
a rerun this year.
So this weekend, 28th to 30th April,
they're doing it again. Friday evening and all day Saturday
and Sunday. There's 60 stalls, a Wall of Death (everyone should
see this at least once in their lives), BMW test rides (before
the beer, please), KTM, Bikesafe assessed rides (again before
the beer), stunts, trikes, dancers and some of the best amateur,
semi pro and professional rock bands around. I've seen a couple
of the bands on the bill and I was sober on both occasions.
I still had a great time, so they can't be bad...
Every penny of the paltry £3.00
per rider (or £5.00 for rider and pillion) goes to charity.
The event is mainly paid for by sponsors with the organisers
picking up the tab for any shortfall. That's dedication for
you.
So. I know it's short notice, but it's
going to be a lovely weekend, weatherwise. What could be better
than a ride down to the Devon coast for some great music,
great company and the warm cozy glow you get from knowing
you've done good? Last year the three charities got £31500
from gate money. That's a lot to you and me but a drop in
the ocean for someone like an air ambulance which needs £4000
a day to stay running. Wouldn't it be cool if we could help
beat that?
Find out more, including a full running
order, here: www.bmad.co.uk
SB
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