Scores of bikers took to the region’s roads today under the blazing sunshine to raise money to support unwell children.

Eastern Daily Press: Bikers meet at Ipswich before setting off on a ride through four counties organised by East Anglian Bikers Picture: GEMMA MITCHELLBikers meet at Ipswich before setting off on a ride through four counties organised by East Anglian Bikers Picture: GEMMA MITCHELL (Image: GEMMA MITCHELL)

The 210-mile ride organised by East Anglian Bikers started in Ipswich this morning and took participants through four counties: Suffolk, Cambridgeshire, Essex and Norfolk.

The event is raising money for East Anglian Children’s Hospices’s Nook Appeal to build a new hospice in Norfolk for youngsters with terminal illnesses.

The ride also acted as a meet and greet for the region’s biking community.

Main organiser is Mick Smith, from Newmarket, who rides a Harley-Davidson.

Eastern Daily Press: Gemma Summers, who was a marshall for the East Anglian Bikers ride Picture: GEMMA MITCHELLGemma Summers, who was a marshall for the East Anglian Bikers ride Picture: GEMMA MITCHELL (Image: GEMMA MITCHELL)

He said: “We have organised today because we want a group run where we can get everyone to meet each other.

“Half of us all talk on the internet but don’t actually get together and today we are doing that and we have an incredible turn out.

“We are going into four counties and each of the counties we have stops where we will meet and socialise and everyone can get to know each other.

“That was the idea. We wanted to do something good and when we were looking for a cause to do the ride for, the one cause that ticked every box was the Nook Appeal. We wanted to do something to support Norfolk as well because the majority of our members are up in Norfolk.

Eastern Daily Press: Bikers gather in Ipswich ahead of a ride through four counties organised by East Anglian Bikers Picture: GEMMA MITCHELLBikers gather in Ipswich ahead of a ride through four counties organised by East Anglian Bikers Picture: GEMMA MITCHELL (Image: GEMMA MITCHELL)

“We are doing a prize draw, we have been asking for donations, businesses have been donating – it’s been absolutely overwhelming.”

The event is expected to bring in more than £1,000 for the cause.

Pink-clad Gemma Summers was a marshall for the ride.

Miss Summers is in the Army and she used to live in Norfolk but has since moved to Wiltshire.

Eastern Daily Press: Bikers line up their motorcycles before setting off on a 210-mile ride organised by East Anglian Bikers Picture: GEMMA MITCHELLBikers line up their motorcycles before setting off on a 210-mile ride organised by East Anglian Bikers Picture: GEMMA MITCHELL (Image: GEMMA MITCHELL)

She said: “I enjoy helping to keep people safe and the biking community around here is really good and friendly.”

Lead rider was Ipswich’s Kenny Middleditch on his 600 Yamaha.

He said: “I’m an ex HGV driver and I have been retired two-and-a-half years so this is my way of giving something back because I have been a biker since 1966 and was a weekend a biker as and when work permitted.”

Mr Middleditch said he was confident in leading the way having completed the five-and-a-half-hour route the previous weekend.