Kilt Ride 2016 Success

On Saturday 28th May 2016, some 100 tartan-clad bikers arrived on the banks of Loch Ness as part of a two-day 500-mile ride in support of the CSF Leak Association. Called ‘The Kilt Ride 2016’ the event was the world’s first ever large-scale awareness and fundraising event for cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) leaks.

This fantastic two-day motorbike event, organised by Ray Michael, a childhood friend of David Baldwin, Chairman of the CSF Leak Association, saw a convoy of motorbikes of all shapes and sizes, learners and old hands, rally to the support of leakers across the UK by travelling around the country, from the Borders to the Highlands, taking in some of Scotland’s most iconic sites and scenery.

The Kilt Ride departed the Leadburn Inn, Midlothian, at 9am on Saturday 28th May to the sound of bagpipes and the smell of bacon butties, and made its way to the second rendezvous point at Tesco Extra, Perth, Edinburgh Road for 11:30. Thereafter, the Kilt Ride made its way through Fife, Perthshire through the Spittal of Glenshee and into the Caingorms.

The overnight stop was at Dores, on the banks of Lock Ness, where there was live music, a BBQ and hugely popular Kilt Ride t-shirts for sale, before travelling back down south the following day via Glen Coe and Bannockburn.

All-in-all, the event was a roaring success and generated significant interest and excitement within the biker community, as well as being warmly welcomed by CSF leak sufferers across the UK, who are in desperate need of support and recognition. Support also came from a number of businesses local to the route, including The Dores Inn, The Leadburn Inn, Saltire Motorcycles and Alba Customs, to whom we express our genuine thanks.

Ray Michael, a professional photographer originally from Edinburgh and now of Wiltshire, organiser of the Kilt Ride and childhood friend of David, said:

“Having known David since we were six or seven, it was a massive shock when he fell so ill. When you are faced with a situation where you feel so helpless and it’s someone you’ve known for so long, someone you care about and someone who was always so active and outgoing, you want to do what you can to help.”

“I am overwhelmed, after the months of hard work and preparation, at how successful the event was. It has been a true honour to organise the Kilt Ride 2016 and I hope its purpose continues to have the desired effect.”

The CSF Leak Association is already in discussions with Ray about plans for Kilt Ride 2017, which he hopes to be ‘bigger and better’…watch this space!