CALNE Bike Meet committee members presented cheques totalling £9,000 to three charities on Saturday, September 30 after a year of hard work raising money.

Hailed as the biggest free bike event in Europe, the Calne Bike Meet this year raised money for three local charities. Each charity was presented with a cheque of £3,000 at the presentation evening at The Bug and Spider, Calne, which celebrated the success of this year’s fundraising and annual bike meet.

Cheques were presented to each of the charities, who gave their thanks for the funds.

This year, £9,000 was raised in total for Free Wheelers, a lifesaving service run entirely by volunteers, Calne Youth Trust, a key service to children in the local area, and children’s hospice Julia’s House.

The money raised will go towards keeping blood bikes on the road, upgrading facilities at Calne Youth Trust, and supporting respite services on offer at Julia’s House.

Chairman, treasurer and webmaster of the Calne Bike Meet Committee, Matthew-Paul Jennings, said: “We had been working all year long. We organise a motorcycle meet, the largest free bike event happens in Calne. Thousands of people attend and donate money. It’s a big event.

“All of the money we raise is from throughout the year and to put the event on in the town.

“The charities are chosen by the committee and put to the local community, who they want to see money go to.”

Landlady of The Bug and Spider, Kerri Dixon was also presented with a certificate for raising £1,099 through various raffles and donations given during weekly bike nights which are held at the pub.

Mr Jennings said: “The Bug and Spider have been supporting us all year long. It was really kind of them, we struggle with local businesses helping and supporting us.

“We are a small committee and we are desperate to have more volunteers and more support.”

For more information, or for anyone interested in joining the Calne Bike Meet committee, please email enquiries@calnebikemeet.com.