Rochdale Brass Knuckle Riders plan ride for man with dementia

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Motorbikes at a bike show in Rochdale town centre (stock photo)

Rochdale motorbike group Brass Knuckle Riders are planning a ride from Rochdale centre to Hollingworth Lake for a man with dementia on Sunday 5 May.

The group have organised to meet at Empire in Rochdale town centre so that John, who has dementia, can have a ride on some old bikes before his memory fails.

Initially Adam Beard, a window cleaner in Denton, had wanted John, who is in his 70s, to go for a ride on a motorbike.

He said: “I see slowly John getting worse as time goes on. Every time I go [to clean his windows], he always tells me about having motorbikes all his life and touring Europe, America, everywhere. It always brings a little spark to him as he always ends the story with ‘my daughter took my bike away’.

“I mentioned to him I would ask some friends to see if someone could take him out for a ride: he lit up and for the first time, I have seen him excited.”

Due to an overwhelming response, the Brass Knuckle Riders have helped organise the special ride for John on Sunday 5 May.

The group will be meeting at Empire at 10am before riding with John to Hollingworth Lake and back.

Group member Paul Whitaker said: “We were contacted by Adam regarding an elderly friend of his who has early stage dementia. Adam wanted to arrange for John to relive his youth on bikes.

“We would like as many people as possible to turn out for John. If you can make it, please do – even just to say hi and then go about your day.

“Please help us make this gentleman's day.”