Hawke's Bay hotrods and motorbikes on fundraising ride for firefighters Sky Tower Challenge

Motorcyclists take a break during a fundraising ride.

Motorcyclists and hotrodders took to the roads last weekend to raise money to send a team of Dannevirke firefighters to Auckland to take part in the Sky Tower Stair Challenge.

Around 30 motorcycles and 10 hotrods travelled the back roads around Tararua and Central Hawke's Bay, stopping at Patangata, Tikokino, Norsewood, Makotuku and Dannevirke, finishing at the Mangatera Hotel.

The ride was organised by Desiree Watt. She has friends taking part in the Sky Tower Challenge so wanted to help fundraise for such a good cause.

"I suggested a fundraising ride as a bit of joke, but people liked the idea and it grew from there."

The Sky Challenge is a fundraiser for Leukaemia and Blood Cancer New Zealand and over the years has raised $425,428 for the cause.

The ride raised around $1000 to help get the firefighters to Auckland in May. Of the money raised $800 was from those registering for the ride and $150 was from donations from the Patangata and Tikokino hotels.

Many of the riders took a soft toy on the ride which were later given to Watt to be sent to a hospital for children facing long-term stays and battling cancer.

Watt said she had received positive feedback about the ride.

"Everyone said it was a very good ride."

She said there was a possibility it could become a regular event but if it did she would need a little more help in organising it.

The team taking part in the Sky Challenge is James Curtis, Mike Dell, Jeff Gatchell and Michael Sowerby. As part of their training they have been running up Riverdale Rd on a regular basis.

Curtis says to take part in the challenge will cost each firefighter around $800 for travel and accommodation so support from the community is much appreciated.

"We have been getting out and about, letting people know what we are going to do and have raised around $1500. We also had a hypnotism evening but that didn't go as well as we hoped. We did raise some money from it and Merrylees Hotel, where the event was held, were very supportive."