Grosvenor Interiors sponsors Ride of the Ruperts
You may not be aware that our head honcho at Grosvenor Interiors, Colin Horn, is a keen motorcyclist. Colin loves to combine his passion for riding motorcycles with work and regularly rides to visit schools and hospitals up and down the country. So we’re delighted to announce that we recently became one of the headline sponsors for Ride of the Ruperts this year.
Ride of the Ruperts is the brainchild of Steve Morrell, a charitable-minded motorcyclist who ran the New York marathon for Whizz-Kidz in 1993, when the charity was only about a year old. Coming to the end of a 30-year career with the police, he then decided to arrange a motorcycle ride that would benefit the charity which provides much needed specialised wheelchairs for young users.
Ably assisted by like-minded people who give their services for free, Steve arranges two motorcycle rides a year in aid of Whizz-Kidz: the Ride of the Ruperts in September, which takes place in Sussex, and the Hop Run in June which is for riders based in Kent. Any motorcycles are welcome but riders are encouraged to dress in tweed. Riders pay a registration fee for the event which goes straight to the charity. Riders are also encouraged to set up a Just Giving page to get further sponsorship from friends and family. This, together with income from sponsorship, raffles and other side-lines, has raised over £70,000 for the charity since the ride was first launched in 2018.
The ride is named after Rupert, the slang term for a junior officer in the British army.
Steve likens a Rupert to some of the characters in Black Adder – officers who are out of touch with reality,
as he feels this sums up those joining in the ride as they dress in tweeds for the occasion.
This year, the Ride of the Ruperts takes place on Sunday 24th September. The ride always starts from the Milk Churn in Horsham. Riders are given a briefing and then ride as a group. The ride takes them through several villages, with spectators lining the route cheering and waving. Halfway point is the historical Hickstead International Showground on the A23 and riders continue to a final meeting point where a private party is held with a band who give their services free of charge.
If you would like to join this years ROTR to support Whizz-Kidz please click HERE.