Bikers to get a police escort in Paris for charity bid

AROUND 30 bikers from Cork are set to be escorted through Paris by motorcycle gendarmes as part of a charity drive.

Bikers4Charity are to undertake a 2,340 kilometre round-trip through Ireland, Wales, England and France in the hope of raising €30,000 for the Cope Foundation, Montenotte.

Rathcormac-based Ger Tobin, who is one of the main organisers, said the cavalcade will include some powerful machine like Harley Davidsons and Suzuki Hayabusas (bird of prey), which have a top speed of 205mph — not that they’ll be doing that, especially in front of the gendarmes.

The bikers will leave Cork tomorrow under a garda escort and hope to arrive in Paris in less than 24 hours after catching ferries from Rosslare and Dover.

The riders will be escorted to the Eiffel Tower for a presentation to be made by the French police.

The last Irishman to get a special police escort in Paris was Stephen Roche, when he won the Tour de France in 1987.

“We will have a support team in three vehicles travelling with us, who will include drivers and medics,” Mr Tobin said.

Michelin Tyres, Bikecraft and Plasterbead Ireland are among the companies on board to sponsor the venture.

Bikers4Charity have undertaken fundraisers over the last few years for a number of worthy causes but this year decided to make a special donation to the Cope Foundation to help the organisation with further developments.

Bikers4Charity said yesterday there were still places on the trip. Anybody interested in taking part can contact Ger Tobin at 086-4032370, or Brian Murphy 087-8200762.