Biker gran revs up for 10,000-strong charity ride through Wootton Bassett (From News Shopper)

Biker gran Julia Stevenson revs up for 10,000-strong charity ride through Wootton Bassett

3:34pm Wednesday 15th February 2012 in News By Jim Palmer

A GRANDMOTHER-OF-EIGHT is hoping to gather 10,000 bikers to ride through Royal Wootton Bassett for the last time in honour of armed forces.

Julia Stevenson, of Coopers Close in South Darenth, has organised the annual Ride of Respect since 2010 raising more than £300,000 for charity, but the closure of RAF Lyneham this year means that March 18 will be the last ride through the iconic town.

This time Ms Stevenson and co-organiser Anne Cole have teamed up with the Royal British Legion to raise money for ten forces charities.

Harley Davidson owner Ms Stevenson, who served in the army herself in the 1960s, hopes to get 10,000 bikes and 15,000 people involved on March 18 and even more on regional and international rides in France, Germany, Italy and Spain.

Ms Stevenson said she decided to do something after seeing footage of the war in Afghanistan.

She said: “You see this war on television, it is a very cruel war with the IEDs and young men are coming back with their legs and arms missing. I was at a rally on day with some people that had just found out that their son had his legs blown off.

“I think we need to do something for these young people because they are going to need help for the rest of their lives.”

Ms Stevenson said the last two rides have been emotional. She said: “It seems rather strange to look round and see thousands and thousands of bikers.

“When we ride through Royal Wootton Bassett in is such an emotional moment – it is happiness and sadness. All those hardened bikers and I don’t think there was a dry eye.”

If you would like to find out more or take part, go to www.rideofrespect.co.uk.