I’m absolutely delighted to tell you that the RotR has, once again, had its most financially successful year to date. Together we have managed to raise an incredible £43,000 for Whizz Kidz in 2024, bringing our overall charitable contributions to £144,000!

Our signature event yesterday raised just shy of £10,300 and, considering the wet start to the day, 98 riders turned out to enjoy another warm welcome from the staff at the Milk Churn. They then went on to enjoy a rather nice dry ride!

Riders attending heard how the year began with our Winter Walk for Whizz Kidz, something that everyone can get involved in each January. This initiative came off the back of lockdown and has allowed us to raise over £12k to date. The Hop Run in June continued to gather momentum and raised £8500, an increase of £1000 on last year’s figures. Our long term RotR supporter and friend, Chris Harper, laid on a party with live music in Belgium and thanks to the generosity of all the Belgians, French, Dutch, Americans and English, she successfully raised over 2300 Euros. Our volunteers worked their socks off in the heat at the Heritage Sprint and raised nearly £1400 through the sale of raffle tickets and merchandise. Sarah Stockley’s one-off, handmade bunny made over £400 this year and our annual J&S and MotoGirl vouchers a similar amount. £660 was raised through some Facebook birthday fundraisers, and quiz nights at both La Salle Verte in Dover and the White Hart in Netherfield raised over £2000. Eva’s photography day at Sykes H-D another £450; the list goes on. And our fabulous riders who set up their JustGiving pages, and sought personal sponsors, raised in excess of £7000 for Whizz Kidz! There were also some notable fundraisers who cleverly used their company’s match-funding schemes to raise several thousand pounds. 

We gained a wonderful new lead sponsor in T. Newman Ltd, joining Grosvenor Interiors as a lead sponsor. Our other sponsors, namely Expose Designs, Heated Driveway Systems, Sykes H-D, Sargents of Sussex, Drakemoor, GNA recruitment, Good Bits, and the Heritage Sprint all remain, and allow us to make the RotR what is it for you, and we were supported too by our friends at J&S Accessories, The Milk Churn, MotoGirl, Tesouro Timepiece, Tour1, BizWeb Solutions, the White Hart at Netherfield, B Road at the Stag and out official photographer, Olly T Media. 

We also thank our talented musicians who take time out of their busy schedules to play for us. This year, music was provided by Lord Ant B and The Incredible Band.

Our highest personal fundraiser for the Ride of the Ruperts on Sunday was announced as Mike Stockley, and so Mike was handed a beautiful Tesouro Timepiece watch as a thank you for his efforts. The draw for the J&S Vouchers, MotoGirl voucher and Benjamin Bunny have taken place and winners have been notified.  

So, finally, from me, an enormous thank you to everyone who participated in 2024 or supported us for Whizz Kidz. You are genuinely making a real difference to the lives of disabled young people in need, here in the UK. 

My best wishes to you all and see you soon,

Stefano Morrelli (Steve)

Founder & Organiser RotR