Countdown begins to 30th Wirral Egg Run: 30 things you need to know about the event

Feb 24 2010 by Lorna Hughes, Birkenhead News

The Wirral Egg Run is in its 30th year, and as work begins on this year’s run, Lorna Hughes brings you 30 facts about the popular event

GET on your bike – the 30th Wirral Egg Run is almost here!

The borough’s first major charity event of the year, for many Wirralians the arrival of the Egg Run is a sign that spring has sprung and Easter is on its way.

With just over a month before the event, here’s 30 things you need to know about the Egg Run:

1. The 2010 Wirral Egg Run takes place on Sunday, March 28.

2. The event, which traditionally takes place in the run-up to Easter, features thousands of motorcyclists travelling in convoy from New Brighton to Clatterbridge Hospital.

3. The 20-mile route goes through Wallasey Village and on to Leasowe Road to Moreton Cross. After turning right through Moreton and heading through Hoylake, you’ll see bikers riding through West Kirby, Caldy and Heswall, then turning on to the Chester High Road, into Thornton Hough and on Clatterbridge Hospital.

4. Organisers are hoping to keep the route unchanged this year but it may be affected by work to create a roundabout near the Cottage Loaf in Thurstaston, which is due to finish in April.

The Egg Run’s Graham Heron said: “At the moment the route is passable but we have an alternative in case we need to use it.”

5. The traditional start time for the Egg Run is 11am.

6. It has become a tradition for members of the public to line the streets of the route and cheer on passing bikes and some donations are made at roadside collections.

7. Last year’s Egg Run raised £26,000 for good causes.

8. It’s impossible to count the exact number of bikes taking part because of the sheer number of participants..

9. ..but organisers estimate last year 8 to 10,000 took part.

10. Originally the Egg Run committee had to donate money raised at the annual event to other charities, such as the Jellybean Appeal at Arrowe Park Hospital.

11. But it became a registered charity in 2008..

12. ..which means the Egg Run committee can now distribute the money raised itself.

13. Last year around £20,000 was released through grants to charities helping sick children..

14...the remainder has been rolled over to add to whatever it raised this year.

15. Charities can download application forms for this year’s Egg Run money from the official website – www.wirraleggrun.co.uk.

16. Organisers appear on the promenade from 6am and some bikers arrive as early as 7am.

17. This year bikers are coming from as far away as London, Llangollen and Exeter.

18. Many see the event as the start of the unofficial biking “season”

19. The Egg Run started in the 1980s, when a few bikers decided to deliver Easter eggs to a local hospital.

20. Dressing up has become a major part of the event and last year’s costumes included Vikings, bananas and rabbits.

21. One rider, Paul McGuinigall, has been dressing as a fluffy chicken for the last five years.

22. With the demise last year of the Wirral Show, organisers are hoping to grow the Egg Run to raise even more cash for charity.

23. Everyone who takes part has to adhere to Wirral Egg Run rules, and it is a rider’s responsibility to ensure their bike is taxed, insured and licensed.

24. Riders are also banned from throwing sweets into the crowd, stopping at the side of the road and slowing down to collect eggs.

25. Organisers say one of the most rewarding parts of the event is seeing people coming together for a common cause. Graham Heron said: “It creates total unity because everyone is there for the same reason – to help children”.

26. The event is organised by the Wirral Egg Run Committee in partnership with Merseyside Police and Wirral Council.

27. Easter egg donations are still a big part of the event and eggs are given to children at Arrowe Park and Clatterbridge Hospital.

28. But, with thousands of eggs handed over each year, some are also donated to children’s homes and nursing homes.

29. The delivery and distribution of eggs is co-ordinated by staff from Wirral NHS.

30. Volunteers are still sought to act as stewards and marshals on the day. e-mail stewards@wirraleggrun.co.uk, visit the Wirral Egg Run page on Facebook or on Twitter @thewirraleggrun.