The Dambusters2013 Virgin Money Giving site is now up and running.

The Dambusters2013 Virgin Money Giving site is now up and running. This is the site where we are asking all riders to donate at least £250 which will be split 80:20 between Help for Heroes and Motorcycle Outreach.

In return, all riders will get their invitation to our 'iconic' Start Event hosted by RAF Scampton and The 617 Sqdn Museum team at Scampton's hanger No.2, discount codes for the various ferry routes, suggested routes to the Mohne, ideas on interesting and related places to stop/visit on the way and so on. All riders will also get automatic and free entry into the Dambusters2013 prize draw with the top prize of a VIP Day Out at the RAF Battle of Britain Memorial Flight!

You will find the site at: http://uk.virginmoneygiving.com/Dambusters2013

Why Virgin Money Giving? Simple. It is the only charity giving site that will allow us to support more than a single charity and do the distribtuon of funds raised in line with a percentage split defined by us. They will also take care of all the 'Gift Aid' stuff too ensuring that both carities get the very best value from all donations made.

 

 

Looking for a sponsor for a GoPro Hero Helmet camera ...

Dambusters2013 (www.dambusters2013.org.uk) is looking for a sponsor to support our Dambusters70th Anniversary Charity Ride for Help for Heroes (www.helpforheroes.org.uk) and Motorycycle Outreach (www.motorcycleoutreach.co.uk) by donating a GoPro Hero 3 motorcycle helmet camera. We want to record the run up to the event, and everything that goes on from during the event from 14th to 17th May, from our Start Event outside Hangar No.2 at the heart of the RAF Scampton airfield right through to the Mohne dam and beyond. Plan is to use film clips for promotional and fund-raising now and through the rest of the summer. Please share this so we can get our request out to as wide an audience as possible. Thank you!!

The Dambusters2013 Prize Draw for registered riders ....

Did you know that if you register to ride with Dambusters2013 and raise your £250 for Help for Heroes and Motorcycle Outreach you will get an exclusive, automatic and FREE entry into the Dambusters2013 Prize Draw!

Top prize is a VIP Day Out at the RAF's Battle of Britain Memorial Flight.
Other prizes include:
1) a helmet from www.reevu.com, and
2) a signed copy of the very latest book about the Dambusters in Afghanistan!

 

50th Rider registers for Dambusters2013....

Delighted to see the 50th rider register to ride on the Dambustrs2013 Charity Motorcycle Ride for Help for Heroes and Motorcycle Outreach - just brilliant!

We have riders joining us from all over the UK - furthest traveller yet I know of is based up in Orkney!!

Quite a busy few days coming up for announcements and information for Dambusters2013. Confirmation of the Virgin Money Giving site web address, confirmation of the discount levels for the various crossing points and more .....

Not involved with Dambusters2013 and want to know more? Visit www.dambusters2013.org.uk

Route Planning for the Dambusters2013 70th Anniversary Charity Ride ...

This afternoon I started some of the route planning for the Dambusters2013 ride in May. The bulk of riders will either cross via the Dover-Calais route or the Hull to Rotterdam / Harwich-Hook of Holland routes. My thinking is that the best thing will be to suggest to riders crossing on the Dover-Calais route to follow a track which will bring them up to join the 'primary route' somewher near Roosendaal. From there, the route I suggest will be based upon that followed by the Lancaster flown by Sqn Ldr David Maltby DSO, AJ-J, on the night of 16th/17th May 1943. This is the only known picture of AJ-J in flight:

 We have a clear record of his route to and from the Mohne dam in the Navigation Log recorded by his navigator, Sgt V Nicholson,for the night of the raid.

We will also be suggesting 'relevant places of interest' which Dambusters2013 might like to stop at en-route to the Mohne such as the grave of Wg Cdr G Gibson VC at Steenbergen, or the memorial at the crash sites of the 617 Sqdn Lancasters flown by F/L Astell near Marbeck and F/L Hopgood at Ostonnen. Directions to each of these 'places of interest' will be part of the Rider Pack which all Dambusters2013 will receive in return for their 'donation of £250 at the dedicated Dambusters2013 Virgin Money Giving site which will be released next week.

 

Are you a biker and not yet signed up to ride with Dambusters2013?? Visit www.dambusters2013.org.uk to find out more about us and what we are doing in May 2013.

 

 





617 Sqdn - The National Memorial Arboretum, Alrewas.

The National memorial Arboretum at Alrewas, Staffordshire is a beautiful and serene place. The walls in the photo above are carved with the names of those who have given their lives serving in HM Forces since the end of the Second World War. To stand amongst all the names and the stunning sculptures that honour them is a truly humbling experience.

 

Just down from the main walls is an area dedicated to trees and memorials to the individuals, squadrons and stations of the Royal Air Force. Amongst the young Silver Birch is one dedicated to all who have served with 617 sqdn, The Dambusters. 

 

 

 

As we left the afternoon sun came out and with the RAF Ensign floating in the gentle breeze our Saturday afternoon had been used well. If you haven't been to the Arboretum it is a trip you should definitely schedule in your diary. 



 



P&O Ferries joining Dambusters2013 ...

Really good conversations with P&O Ferries yesterday. Final confirmations required but it looks like they will be providing Dambusters2013 riders with discount codes for several crossing options when we ride for Help for Heroes and Motorcycle Outreach in May 2013!

 

Hull to Rotterdam, Hull to Zeebruge and Dover to Calais will all be involved and Dambusters2013 will be suggesting routes and 'points of interest' for all three!

Not involved with dambusters2013 yet?? Free to ride to the Mohne Dam between 14th and 17th May? Fancy raising some cash for Help for Heroes (www.helpforheroes.org.uk) and Motorcycle Outreach (www.motorcycleoutreach.org)?

Visit www.dambusters2013.org.uk and register to ride with us today!!

Dambusters2013 in MCN ....

 

Check us out and get involved ... www.dambusters2013.org.uk

Details of our Starting Event - 14th May 2013

New poster ...

Planning the Start Event at RAF Scampton...

On Tuesday 5th February Dambusters2013 in the form of myself, Craig and Barbara met up with RAF Scampton to move our plans ahead for the Starting Event of Dambusters2013.

The level of support offered and the openess with which what Dambusters2013 is trying to achieve was embraced and enhanced by the whole team at RAF Scampton was overwhelming! So let's put on record here and now our thanks to Flt Lt Sarah James of RAF Scampton and Maureen Hanson (@smurfess1969 on twitter!) from the volunteers restoring, running and caring for the home of the Dambusters in 1943, Hanger No.2.

 

 

So what are the highlights of the day on 14th May then?

• Dambusters2013 Charity Motorcycle Ride will start from exactly the same place as the original raid in 1943; Hanger No.2 at the heart of the airfield on RAF Scampton. The main Royal Air Force commemoration of the dam's Raid will taking place in exactly the same location on 16th May at the same time that the Dambusters2013 riders will be at the Mohne Dam
• Riders will all have the opportunity to visit the Dambusters Museum, Wg Cdr Guy Gibson's office which has been painstakingly restored to how it looked in May 1943 and Nigger's grave(Guy Gibson's black labrador) - Free!
• The main hangar will be open so that riders will be able to get out of the wet should it be raining - it is England after all - with Tea, Coffee etc ...
• All the bikes and riders will be lined up for a Dambusters2013 Group photo in front of Hanger No.2 - and the shot will be made available for all riders to download immediately after the ride to the Mohne.

 



There are some really exciting possibilities beyond this but they still need confirming ... so watch this space!

Tomorrow - details on our visit to the Battle of Britain Memorial Flight and how they too are supporting Dambusters2013.

Some basic info about Dambusters2013...

Dambusters2013 is a charity motorcycle ride to commemorate the famous Dambusters Raid on 16th/17th May 1943 when 617 Sqdn breached the Ruhr Dams using the bouncing bomb designed by Barnes Wallis. Combining the success of the ‘Dambusters2012’ charity ride and the hugely supported ‘Easter Egg’ motorcycle charity runs from across the UK to deliver a unique and exciting motorcycling event for all involved which will see Significant numbers of bikers all riding to the Mohne Dam in time to lay wreathes on the waters of the Mohnesee at 00.19hrs, the time the dam was breached in 1943. Invitations will be extended to German bikers too - this is a commemoration of the loss of life and destruction for all concerned.

We are a formally approved and 'featured' event for our primary charity ‘Help for Heroes’ who provide practical direct support for our current wounded. 80% of money raised will go to help for Heroes. Secondary charity supported is Motorcycle Outreach. 20% of money raised will go to MoR.

Dambusters2013 is immensely proud to have the support of the Battle of Britain Memorial Flight, RAF Lossiemouth and RAF Scampton, current and historic home of the Dambusters as well as 617 sqdn themselves - the real Dambusters!

 Our starting event will be at RAF Scampton, home of 617 Squadron, the Dambusters, on the 14th May 2013 when Dambusters2013 riders will be able to visit the original and now beautifully restored Hanger 2, Home of the Dambusters in May 1943 and actually sit at Wg Cdr Guy Gibson's desk in his restored office..... there will be more too!! Our thanks to RAF Scampton who are being just brilliant!!

Participating riders will then make their own way across the North Sea to arrive at the Mohne dam itself (there are three current ferry routes departing from Newcastle, Hull and Harwich). Discounted ferry costs will be available for all ‘Dambusters2013 accredited’ riders - discounts to be advised shortly.

To be an 'Acredited Dambusters2013 Rider' all you need to do is raise at least £250 for the Dambusters2013 charities Help for Heroes and Motorcycle Outreach and donate on-line via a dedicated ‘Virgin Money Giving’ website – safe, secure and with Gift Aid option. The Virgin Money Giving site will be up and running to accept donations from Mid-February 2013.All riders will be given details of two planned and plotted ride routes to match to the first and second wave tracks of the original Dambuster Lancaster bombers in 1943 and also some suggested 'places of interest' to visit on the ride to the Mohne Dam, such as the crash site where Wg Cdr Guy Gibson lost his life in September 1944 at Steenbergen flying a Mosquito as Master Bomber.

Wreaths in English and German commemorating the destruction and loss of life from the Dambusters Raid of 1943 will be laid onto the waters of the Mohnesee to complete the ride and charity event for 2013.

Ride on to wherever takes your fancy! Straight home, down to the south of France .........

Interested in being a part of Dambusters2013? Click on the 'Register' tab and let us know!!

 

Your Dambusters2013 Organising Team...

Simon Dufton, Sales Director with asset finance business Deutsche Leasing. This will be Simon’s 3rd Charity Motorcycle Ride for Help for Heroes.

Craig Carey-Clinch MCIPR, Managing Director of Rowan Public Affairs. Craig is a public policy and media specialist, with over 20 years international experience and a Member of the Chartered Institute of Public Relations.

Victor Chevens, Relationship Director with household banking name RBS. This will also be Victor’s 3rd Charity Motorcycle Ride for Help for Heroes.



Al Hunter, Owner, Network XP Consultancy. Al is a highly experienced ‘bike rider and hopefully, workloads allowing, will be responsible for the Dambusters2013 website and coordinator of our Twitter, Facebook, Internet and Blog image.

More info and images at www.dambusters2013.org.uk

Welcome to the Dambusters2013 Blog!!

First post on the blog for Dambusters2013, the 70th Anniversary Motorcycle Ride which is commemorating the loss of life on all sides of the conflict resulting for the Dambusters Raid on the night of 16th/17th may 1943. Our simple purpose, aside from the commemoration, is to raise some much needed funds for two fantastic charities:
www.helpforheroes.org.uk and www.motorcycleoutreach.org

We have no political or any other aims - we are just wanting to do a bit of good and enjoy our biking at the same time.

We are also very proud to have the full and active support of RAF Lossiemouth, RAF Scampton, the Battle of Britain Memorial Flight and 617 Sqdn, Royal Air Force - the Dambusters themselves!

For more details visit www.dambusters2013.org.uk

I will try to keep posting images and information about our plans for the ride, supporters and sponsors, along with interesting information and images from the current 617 Sqdn as we move along toMay and the ride itself!

Thanks for looking - welcome to Dambusters2013!