The Nelson Marlborough Rescue Helicopter Trust and the Angels Trio received donations from the Nelson Motorcyle Club's charity motocross event on Thursday. Photo: Simon Bloomberg

Motocross riders race for charities

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The Nelson Motorcycle Club is aiming to rev up its junior charity motocross after the inaugural event raised $5500 for some of Nelson’s favourite charities.

The club’s mini and junior motocross was held at MotoXpark in Eighty-eight Valley last month with teams of riders racing for a designated charity.

One of the organisers, Delwyn Leitch, says the event was so well supported by the business community and riders that it raised $5500 for seven charities with the top three team’s charities getting the biggest donations.

The teams handed over their donations last Thursday with two members of the winning team, Seb Wardle and Harry Gardner, giving the Nelson Marlborough Rescue Helicopter a cheque for $3125.

Seb, who finished second in the 125-200cc class, says it was a great event and “good to be able to race for charity as well as your team”.

Nelson Marlborough Rescue Helicopter Trust general manager Paula Muddle was delighted with the donation, saying “we always need more money to keep our helicopter flying.”

“It’s wonderful for people to arrange some sponsorship and all we have to do is come along and collect a cheque – they did a fantastic job,” Paula says.

The Angels Trio received $1100 and Nelson Regional Breast and Gynaecological Cancer Trust $825. The SPCA, Nelson Tasman Hospice, Waimea College Special Education Department and Fifeshire Foundation each received $137.

“We are hoping that this event will grow in size and popularity in the future,” Delwyn says.

“We had such good support from all the businesses we’d like it to become a permanent fixture on the Nelson Motorcycle Club event calendar.”