The 2025 National Motorcycle Teddy Bear Relay, organised by charity fundraisers ‘Relay Riders UK’ will span three weeks from 28th June to 19th July, in aid of registered charity, Mental Health Motorbike.
The ‘relay’ will have two teddy bears, departing from two locations. They will meet up along the way and travel together for the rest of their journey around the UK. The starting points will be Ballymoney, in Northern Ireland on 28th June, and Mablethorpe, on the east coast of England on 29th June.
The full Relay will take the bears on a journey through England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland, as well as visiting The Isle of Man and the Isle of Wight before completing the final leg from Ladybower Reservoir in the Peak District to The Old George Inn in Goole on the 19th of July, followed by a party.
For 2025, the UK’s biggest annual motorcycle teddy bear relay has over 380 dedicated, pre-determined handover points with a timed route between each one that takes the bears on a journey of over 12,500 miles around the United kingdom.
Bear #1 starts in Mablethorpe, on the east coast of England. This bear was donated by Michelle Gardner, in remembrance of Kibi Wade and to thank Mental Health Motorbike for the help and support the charity gave their family after Kibi very sadly took her own life in 2024.
Bear #2 starts in Ballymoney, Northern Ireland. Who best to represent the ‘Norn Iron’ biking community than ‘Yer Maun’ Joey Dunlop O.B.E., M.B.E.
The venue for the start will be at ‘Joey’s Bar’. We would like to extend our gratitude to Linda, Joanne and the rest of the Dunlop family for being so accepting and helping make this possible.
More info, including a more detailed look at the back stories for each bear can be found in the NEWS section of our website: relayriders.co.uk
Ever since a group of complete strangers decided to organise a charity ride in 2014 the relay has been making a difference to people’s lives. Since that initial event fundraising for Help for Heroes, the relay has gone on to raise much needed funds for such diverse charities as: Soldiers off the Street, UK Association for Milk Banking, The Doc Bike Project, Mental Health Research UK, NABD and Lia’s Wings with almost £90,000 being raised in the process!
The relay has a simple concept.
Once a rider has volunteered, they are allocated a handover point close to them. Once registrations close, routes are then planned between each handover point. The relay does not use motorways on any of the routes, making sure the event is open to riders of all abilities & all bike sizes. Sounds simple, but the reality is that it takes months of careful planning to make this amazing event happen.
A full list of the charities supported by Relay Riders UK, as well as the timetable and route maps for the 2025 relay are available by visiting www.relayriders.co.uk
To get involved or find out more visit our website or find us on Facebook, Instagram and X.
