One of the lesser known facts about the motorbike riding community is the phenomenal number of charity rides it organises. Practically every weekend there’s charity rides somewhere in Australia. Riders get together and raise funds for good causes. From cancer research to mental health support, supporting bushfires victims and firefighters, assisting the homeless, supporting families of fallen riders, memorial rides, and more. An endless number of good causes, in which thousands of motorbike riders proudly take part.

Santa Ride

One of these charity rides is the Annual Santa Ride for the Bear Cottage. This fantastic colourful event, which is organised by the riding group Sydneys Riders, attracts hundreds of riders every year for 8 years now. An absolute spectacular ride in which most riders (and many bikes!) are dressed in Santa suits!

An estimated 700 bikes took part in the ride last night, which started in Five Dock, went through Parramatta Road, the City, Woolloomooloo, and ended in a group photo in Bondi Beach. It was colourful, it was exciting, it was beautiful! (and a bit noisy too).

Last year the group collected about $4000 for the Bear Cottage and this year the organisers were hoping to collect $5000.

Bear Cottage

The Bear Cottage is an initiative of The Children’s Hospital at Westmead. It is a hospice providing care for children with life-limiting conditions, with the aim to be as far removed from a hospital environment as possible. Operating since 2001, it provides support, respite and end-of-life care for these children and their families, in a warm homelike environment. 

Their work is amazing and the impact they have on the kids is phenomenal.

Sydneys Riders

Sydneys Riders is group of motorcycle riders established by Greg Ferraina in 2008. Greg wanted to create a riding group that is warm and open for everyone, regardless of what bike they ride.

The group, which currently has over 15,000 members, hosts weekly, monthly and special riding events. Each week the group rides to a different destination, which include the Old Pacific Highway, the Royal National Park, Sackville Ferry, Northern Beaches and more.  All riders are welcome to join the rides, regardless of the level of their riding skills.

If you missed the Santa Ride you can still get involved by donating online here.

A short clip summarising the event can be found here.

Well done Greg and the crew for this great initiative.

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