Annual Gordon Endler Memorial Ride To Take Place This Weekend In Aid Of Local Air Ambulance

An annual Isle of Wight motorbike charity ride is taking place this weekend.

The Gordon Endler Memorial Ride, which raises money for two local Air Ambulance charities - Hampshire & Isle of Wight, and Dorset & Somerset - takes place on Saturday (19 July).

Meeting from 11.30am for a 12.30pm departure at Sandown Airport, there will be a cafe available for food and drinks, as well as toilets.

The ride is held in memory of Gordon Endler, a popular local biker who died in a road traffic incident in July 2020.

His partner, Jacqui Stannett, was on the back of the bike, and survived thanks to the Air Ambulance lifting her direct to Southampton General Hospital.

This is the sixth time this ride has been held, and previous rides have attracted over a hundred bikes, many of which do not know the route.

There is a team of volunteer marshals who will be holding traffic at junctions and traffic lights to keep the bikes together.

A spokesperson for the ride said:

"We ask the public to be patient, we are raising money for a worthy charity and will be out of your way as quickly as possible.

"Bikers and non-bikers are all welcome to support the ride, with members of the public welcome to view the bikes at the start and finish.

"There will be volunteers from the Hampshire & Isle of Wight Air Ambulance at the start point, and collection tins will be carried round the route, and you can meet us when we take breaks at Freshwater Bay and Blackgang Viewpoint, Donations are not compulsory, but will be gratefully received."

The ride will be led by Jacqui Stannett and Gordon’s son, Joe Endler, and is organised by Jon Flexi and Pippa Ellis of Solent 1990s Sportsbikes.

You can find out more via the Facebook page for the event.