Cheltenham Harley Davidson bikers Rolling Hills Chapter supporting charity
BURLY bikers spring to mind for most people when they think of a motorcycle gang, but for Cheltenham's Harley Davidson riders a heart of gold is just as important as a leather jacket.
The Rolling Hills Chapter of the Harley Owners Group (Hog) may be founded on the members' love of riding their bikes in numbers, but they also raise thousands of pounds for charity.
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generous: Members of the Rolling Hills Chapter of the Harley Owners Group, front, on bike, Gareth Swanson, director; rear, left to right, Cathleen Burden, secretary, Brian Andrew, treasurer, Nelson Shield, assistant director
Members will even be baking cakes to support the Midlands Air Ambulance on March 16, when they celebrate the Cheltenham Harley Davidson dealership's move to new premises in Princess Elizabeth Way.
There are currently 190 members of the chapter, which was the first in Europe when it was founded in March 1989, and they regularly meet at Gupshill Manor in Tewkesbury to ride out together.
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Bikers in the chapter range in age from mid 30s to 85-year-old Billy McKelvie, and there are around 25 female members among the group.
Director Gareth Swanson, 39, said: "There are two aspects that make people want to be members. One is the joy of riding, and the other is the camaraderie. It's just as much about the social side as the actual riding."
One of the reasons the chapter has raised more than £6,000 for the air ambulance over the past three years is that the airborne paramedics came to the rescue of a member when he had a crash in Wales.
"He had a compound fracture of the leg and went into shock. It would have been a lot worse if the air ambulance had not been there to rush him to hospital," Gareth said. One of the ways the chapter raises money for charity is by taking Harley enthusiasts out on the back of their bikes for a ride on special occasions.
This weekend they took Jane Millard from Cheltenham for a spin for her 60th birthday, with her making a donation to the charity in return.
Gareth, who rides a CVO Ultra Harley and is an IT expert by day, said: "We took her out around the Cotswolds and it was a birthday to remember."
As well as enjoying the winding roads of the Cotswolds, members also like to go further afield for a ride, and this summer a group of 28 will travel to Yellowstone in the US for a biking holiday.
For more details, go to www.rollinghillshog.co.uk.
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