MORE than 150 kind-hearted bikers made a special delivery of toys and gifts to seriously ill children this weekend.
The generous Rivington Barn Bikers travelled in convoy to deliver a sleigh-load of presents from their base in Rivington to Derian House Children’s Hospice in Chorley on Sunday.
Dressed in festive dress, and with many of the bikes decorated for Christmas, the bikers flooded down the driveway of the hospice to the delight of the children staying there, who watched with delight from the front steps.
The bikers then formed a chain gang and passed presents down the length of the car park and into the hospice building.
The extraordinary gesture was in memory of biker Craig Hayward’s son James who was cared for at Derian House before he died on Boxing Day in 2005, aged seven.
Craig Hayward said: “We started this three years ago with 30 bikers and it’s just got bigger and better every year since. It’s overwhelming to see how everyone pulls together and I want to thank each and every person who came out today. This means more to me than just about anything.
“Derian House will always have a place in my heart. My lad came here and a few of my lad’s friends came here too. It’s a fantastic place that helps relieve the stress for parents and I hope by doing this I can do that too. I just wanted to give something back and put a smile on the kids’ faces.”
Caroline Taylor, Communications and Marketing Manager at Derian House Children’s Hospice, said: “We were absolutely overwhelmed by this generous gesture from the Rivington Barn Bikers. The children staying at the hospice were so excited to see them – it was joyous to watch their faces as the bikes pulled into the driveway.
“We will make good use of the gifts donated, making sure that each of the 450 children and young people we care for, and many of their siblings too, get a special present this year. On behalf of everyone at Derian House we’d like to say a huge thank you to Craig and his fellow bikers.”
Visit https://www.justgiving.com/campaign/DHChristmas19 to help a child at Derian House Children’s Hospice this Christmas.