Liam Beckett with Sheila Sinton MBE, Yvonne Ward and Jan Simm from The Injured Riders Welfare Fund 
at the MCE Ulster Grand Prix Meet the Riders event at Ramada Plaza Hotel, Belfast on 4th July where fundraising kicked off

The MCE Insurance Ulster Grand Prix has announced that a staggering £10,000 has been raised for this year’s charity partner The Injured Riders Welfare Fund at this year’s event. 

Fundraising began on July 4 at the official UGP launch, with collections held at both the press launch in The Island Arts Centre, Lisburn and at the Meet The Riders event at the Ramada Plaza, Shaw’s Bridge. 

Efforts continued throughout bike week with sponsored walks, collections, quiz nights and two charity auctions, while one of the Ulster Grand Prix marshals even shaved her head for the cause. 

Speaking on behalf of the Injured Riders Welfare Fund, Sheila Sinton MBE, said: 

“We are delighted by the outcome of our hard work at the launch and throughout bike week. The fans have been very generous - £10,000 is a fantastic total amount. 

“At the start of the week, even when the weather was bad, we were emptying our buckets, counting money until one o’clock in the morning and competing with each another to see who had raised the most – it was all part of the craic.” 

Ulster GP Clerk of the Course Noel Johnston said: 

“The Injured Riders Welfare Fund is our chosen charity partner for this year, and it is easy to see why. They work hard to raise funds for a worthy cause that is close to the heart of race fans and racers alike,” 

said Johnston. 

“We’d like to thank Jan and her team for all of their efforts at our launch.” 

The charity, established in 2003 by Jan Simm, Yvonne Ward and Sheila Sinton, offers emotional and financial support to riders who have been injured in motorbike accidents and to their families through post-injury care, support in payment of hospital bills and transport arrangements and any other necessary cost that may be incurred along the riders road to recovery. 

All money raised by the charity is spent solely on the riders and is not spent on administrative costs. 

More at http://www.injuredriderswelfarefund.org.uk or check out their Facebook page. To make a donation please email dontfalloff@btinternet.com.