Council teams up with biker café to raise charity money and highlight road safety messages

Council road safety experts will use mannequins to display what type of clothing motorcyclists should wear at the H Café in Dorchester on Thames from 10am to 4pm on Sunday 29 June, where money will also be collected for The Fire Fighters Charity, which supports serving and retired firefighters and their families.

Information about advanced motorcycle training will also be available at the Oxford Road café, which for a long time has been a popular location for bikers to meet.

It has previously hosted biker safety events but Sunday is the first specifically aimed at raising money for the Fire Fighters Charity.

A raffle will be held, with prizes donated by local businesses and Oxfordshire Fire and Rescue Service staff.

Strong relationship with local bikers

Mick Clarke, Oxfordshire County Council Fire and Rescue Service's Road Safety Manager, said: "We have forged a really strong relationship with the local biking community and a lot of this has been down to previous events hosted at H Café.

"The day is about raising money for the Fire Fighters Charity and also highlighting important road safety messages, particularly targeted at bikers."

Safety messages

Mr Clarke, who rides a motorbike, said: "Normal clothing is not adequate in safety terms when riding a motorbike and the mannequins that we will have on display will show what clothing bikers should wear to keep as safe as possible on the road.

"I can't thank everybody at H Café enough for holding this event, and also those who have donated prizes for the fund-raising raffle. I am sure that it will be a great day and that lots of money will be raised for The Fire Fighters Charity."

Council's award for money raised for Fire Fighters Charity

The event is one of many which Oxfordshire Fire and Rescue Service has been involved in where money has been raised for the Fire Fighters Charity.

Oxfordshire Fire and Rescue Service won the Team of the Year accolade at this year's Spirit of Fire Awards in recognition of the £14,000 it raised for the Fire Fighters Charity via a 463-mile cycle ride from Oxford to Bonn, which was undertaken by 21 staff.