Press Release. Dambusters2013 Charity Motorcycle Ride Ready for Take Off.

 

Press Release.

 Embargo: Immediate 6^th May 2013

Dambusters2013 Charity Motorcycle Ride Ready for Take Off.

With just a week to go before the start of the Dambusters2013 motorcycle ride from RAF Scampton to the Mohne Dam in Germany, the event organisers can now announce a full programme of events at each end of the Ride.

Dambusters2013 starts with an iconic event hosted by RAF Scampton's Heritage Centre on 14th May between 09.30am and midday including a flypast by two of 617 Sqdn's Tornado GR4 fast jets complete with Dambusters commemorative tail art. Riders who are taking a full part in the event as a charity fundraiser will gather outside the newly restored 617 Dambusters Squadron Hangar No.2 in the heart of the Station itself, adjacent to the runway. It was from here that the Dambusters raid was launched on May 16th 1943.

There will be an opportunity to see inside the hangar, see the 617 Squadron heritage museum and also visit Wing Commander Guy Gibson’s office which has been restored to how it looked when Gibson himself directed 617 operations from Scampton.

There is also an equally iconic event at the other end of the ride to commemorate the 70th Anniversary of the Dams Raid. Having received an enthusiastic welcome in Germany for the 21^st century aims of the commemoration of the Dambusters Raid, a welcome event has been organised by the local authorities and motorcycle groups in the Mohnesee district. As part of this, riders who are taking part as charity fundraisers will be able to tour the restricted area of the Dam on the afternoon of May 16^th and take part in a locally organised motorcycle ride around the Mohnesee.

Later in the evening, to coincide with the exact 70^th anniversary time of arrival of Guy Gibson’s crews, the Mayor of the Mohnesee area will join Dambusters2013 organisers to lay wreaths on the water by the Dam. This will be in remembrance of both the aircrews who lost their lives on May 16/17^th 1943 and also the many hundreds who died on the ground as a result of the Raid.

With just a week to go to the start of the Ride,  Dambusters2013 Rider Packs are starting to flow out to registered riders who have donated their £250 at the Dambusters2013 VirginMoneyGiving site. These packs contains loads of useful information, details on how to get ferry discounts, ideas of interesting Dambuster related places to visit en-route to the Mohne dam and also a personal invitation to the Start Event hosted at RAF Scampton.  

There are still places available for those who want to take part in the events and the ride to Germany. To be part of this great motorcycling event all you need to do is raise £250 and donate it on-line at a dedicated Virgin Money Giving site - for further details about this, details of what you get as a 'Dambusters2013 Rider', the charities that are being supported - and the ride itself click on http://www.dambusters2013.org.uk/page1.php .

Dambusters2013 is a formally approved 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. The secondary charity is Motorcycle Outreach. 20% of money raised will go to MoR, which works to provide motorcycles for healthcare workers in developing countries.

Event organiser Simon Dufton said: “With the announcement of the welcome event in Germany, there is now a full range of activities which commemorate the Dams Raid in a sensitive way – commemoration not celebration.

 “The Dambusters 2013 ride will be a truly memorable event – a commemoration of a ground breaking historic event, coupled with an excellent motorcycle ride to Germany. We still have spaces for riders, but given the short time, we advise people to ‘sign on’ as soon as possible, so that we can ensure that all are properly catered for at each end of the ride.”

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 Squadron themselves - the real Dambusters!

DS

Notes to Editors

·         For further information and to sign onto the Dambusters 2013 ride, please go to:  http://www.dambusters2013.org.uk/page1.php , Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/Dambusters2013?fref=ts

·         Contact: Simon Dufton 07919 327824 or Craig Carey-Clinch 07979 757484

·         Dambusters2013, Newgale, 15 Airdale Spinney, Stone, Staffordshire, ST15 8AZ

Issued on behalf of Dambusters 2013 by Rowan Public Affairs Ltd. www.rowanpublicaffairs.com