Motorbike ride of a lifetime for John

Date published: 12 May 2019

Hundreds of bikers gave an elderly man with dementia the ride of a lifetime from Rochdale town centre to Hollingworth Lake on Sunday 5 May.

Rochdale motorbike group Brass Knuckle Riders and scores of others from across Greater Manchester turned out at Empire for John, who has dementia.

Initially Adam Beard, a window cleaner in Denton, had wanted John, who is in his 70s, to go for a ride on a motorbike, one of his favourite pastimes. Due to an overwhelming response, over 200 bikers turned out for John’s special ride.

• www.rochdaleonline.co.uk/news-features/2/news-headlines/127432/rochdale-brass-knuckle-riders-plan-ride-for-man-with-dementia

Paul Whitaker, a member of the Brass Knuckle Riders, said: “John was overwhelmed by all the great bikes. Adam was humbled by the amount of people who gave up their Sunday morning for him.

“John loved it. He couldn't believe how many people turned out and his surprise was evident in his face. He didn't stop smiling all the way round.”