Photo by Eugene Lim on Unsplash
Two Wheels for Life has raised a record-breaking €234,000 during the Qatar Airways Grand Prix of Great Britain weekend at Silverstone.
The charity is the official charity partner of MotoGP, with money raised supporting healthcare programmes in The Gambia, Nigeria, Lesotho and Malawi. These programmes provide reliable transport so vital medical services can reach people living in remote and underserved communities.
The fundraising took place from Thursday 6 August to Sunday 9 August as part of the GP of Champions celebrations.
The weekend began with a sold-out MotoGP Experience Day attended by 750 guests. Fans received exclusive paddock access and the chance to see riders and teams preparing for the races. Two Wheels also operated a helmet and leathers park throughout the weekend for visitors arriving by motorcycle.
On Friday, more than 150 fans took part in the Silverstone Challenge at MotoGP’s Racing for the Future Truck. Participants donated to ride the MotoGP Simulator, competing to win a Sunday grid experience for two.
Sixteen-year-old Kacper Dubanowski claimed the prize after recording a fastest lap of 1:55.699. Ten fans also experienced a high-speed pillion ride around Silverstone on a Ducati MotoEX2. The rides were piloted by Ducati test rider Franco Battaini and former Grand Prix racer Fonsi Nieto.
Charity auctions held on Friday and Saturday were hosted by presenters Michael Hill, Suzi Perry and Gavin Emmett, with riders from every MotoGP team joining them on stage.
Lots included a Valencia MotoGP experience, tickets to the FIM Awards Dinner, a VR46 Team Experience, signed Alex Marquez memorabilia and replica Barry Sheene championship leathers. Fans also bid on Sprint Grid passes and VIP experiences to enjoy during the Silverstone weekend.
Two Wheels Co-Founder and CEO Andrea Coleman said: “The GP of Champions at Silverstone is our biggest and most important event of the calendar year, and we are so proud that the motorcycle community has come together to support our mission at Two Wheels for Life with our largest fundraising total ever.
“We’ve been so fortunate to host the GP of Champions, and formerly the Day of Champions, for over 35 years at the British Grand Prix. We want to thank our partners at MotoGP and Silverstone, as well as all the riders and teams for their incredible generosity in helping make this our biggest GP of Champions yet.”