Roaring bikes raise $8000 for hospice

On Ya Bike, Cranford Hospice fundraiser. Photo / Warren Buckland

A whisper of birds singing among the blossoms was broken by the sound of thunder on Saturday.

Residents of Knight St Hastings were woken as 400 motorcycles gathered from all parts of the country to take part in the first annual "On Ya Bike" mystery charity ride on Saturday.

It was all for a good cause, with the event raising $8000 for Hawke's Bay's Cranford Hospice.

General manager Helen Blaxland gave a "touching" blessing ceremony as the event organised by the British and American Motorcycle Club kicked off, one of the organisers Willy Ransfield said.

It was a "spectacular thrilling sight" for onlookers as a police escort guided the pilot vehicle and iron-horse posse out of town as they began their mystery highway journey, Mr Ransfield said. The group made "mystery stops" finishing at the Puketapu Hotel for prizegiving and raffle prizes.

Kate Grindrod of Havelock North won the major prize - an "On Ya Bike" pimped fridge filled with Harley Davidson vouchers, bikers nuts, hog snot balls, cash and other items.

Event organiser Errol Kalmancsi was proud to hand over the cheque to Cranford, to continue their valued community palliative care.