I have just
returned from a motorcycle rally. What
this is at its most basic form is a bunch of bikers getting together somewhere
to party for a few days, and then ride home with a hangover. It usually involves camping, a bar of some
description, and live entertainment in the form of a band or three. The smaller ones like this are run by
motorcycle clubs whose members work voluntarily, and proceeds are often donated
to charity. Yup, the old ideas about
nasty greasy bikers who bite the heads off chickens and roast small children
are untrue – we are a lovely bunch, really!
What made
this weekend particularly memorable for me was a lovely lady called Pam. On Saturday evening, Pam subjected herself to
the tender ministrations of a pair of clippers and a chap called Mark. I should explain: Mark won an auction to be
the wielder of said clippers in order to shave Pam’s head in the name of
charity – MacMillan Cancer Relief and the Air Ambulance to be precise.
I was given
the job of jingling a bucket around the folk in the pub for donations to these
worthy causes, and I was overwhelmed by their generosity, not only from my
fellow bikers, but also from the locals. Now, Pam’s hair was almost waist length, so the cutting and clipping
process took some time, which gave me the opportunity to do a quick count up –
over £440 – wow! This would be in
addition to the various other boxes left in strategic places and promises that
had been made to Pam prior to the night.
What can I
say? I felt honoured to be a part of this
great fundraising effort, and humbled by Pam’s commitment to go from long
blonde locks to a number 1. Not least
because the auction got rather heated at one point with one chap bidding to
have her keep her hair, which she refused.
And who
says bikers are all a bunch of scary no good layabouts – I’ll pull yer hair out,
I will!
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