Delighted as Dave Day raises £127,000 in memory of Hairy Bikers star Dave Myers

The biking community has expressed its delight as a tribute ride in memory of TV chef Dave Myers raised £127,000 for charity.

More than 20,000 bikers travelled from London to Myers’ hometown of Barrow-in-Furness in Cumbria in June for an event called Dave Day.

The money raised was split between the charities NSPCC and the Institute of Cancer Research.

During the event, fellow Hairy Biker Si King said: “Dave would be enormously proud of you, you are a good bunch.”

The charity ride was organized following Myers’ death in February at the age of 66, two years after he announced he had been diagnosed with cancer.

Lynne Martin, who cheered the bikers on as they arrived in Barrow, described it as “an incredible day raising an incredible amount of money”.

Her son, daughter and son-in-law also took part in the trip.

One participating biker wrote online that it was “an incredible amount and an incredible day for an incredible person.”

In a post on Instagram, King, along with Myers’ wife Lili, thanked the people who helped raise the money.

“This is a remarkable amount donated to charity,” he said.

“Thank you, thank you, thank you, Dave would be so proud of you.”

Ms Myers added: “And don’t forget the two charities who do such amazing work. They benefit from it and so many lives are helped, so thank you.”

Jason (Woody) Woodcock, a friend of Myers who was instrumental in organising Dave Day, said the total of just over £127,300 was “astonishing”.

They had originally expected 5,000 bikers to take part and hoped to raise £5,000.

In a video posted on Facebook, Mr Woodcock said: “This is an incredible amount. We never thought we would raise this much. We never thought we would have this many bikes.”

“Well done and happy Dave day, I love you all.”

The NSPCC said it had so far received more than £89,000 from funds raised through the Dave Day scheme.

Chief Executive Sir Peter Wanless thanked the fundraisers, adding: “Events like this play an essential role in raising the vital funds we need to maintain our services for all the children and young people who need our help.”

Meanwhile, the Institute of Cancer Research said it had received an “incredible” £63,169.

“We are very honoured to have been chosen as one of the beneficiaries – the money raised will support our research to make discoveries that will beat cancer and help save more lives.”