About
The Annual National Motorcycle Teddy Bear Relay is an event that riders of all levels can take part in, from learners to seasoned veterans.
The Relay goes all around the UK so everyone can get involved, no matter where you live. The relay does not travel on motorways, making the event learner-friendly. A cuddly toy mascot is carried by volunteer motorcycle riders to raise funds for the nominated charity.
For more info about how the relay works, check out the official website: relayriders.co.uk
Relay Riders' nominated charity for 2025 is Mental Health Motorbike
Mental Health Motorbike exists to create meaningful opportunities so that together we grow the greater wellbeing of the motorbike community.
The aim of Mental Health Motorbike is to reduce suicide amongst bikers in the UK. By building a free, dedicated national network of trained mental health first aiders who can support bikers and their families across the UK.
They do this through 1 to 1 and peer support, events, training activities and projects, working in partnership with other organisations and clubs.
Due to a large increase in numbers (Almost 400 bear carriers, plus their support riders), instead of the usual single start to the Relay, this year there will be two starts, and of course two bear mascots.
When it was decided to have the second start to the Relay in Northern Ireland, the obvious initial choice was Joey's Bar.
Together with the consent of the Dunlop family, not only will Relay Riders have the Start of the 2025 Relay Riders UK event in Ballymoney, but their mascot will have a familiar look to him. The mascot will leave Seymour Street Ballymoney at 12:30pm sharp. Travelling past the Joey Dunlop Leisure Centre on the Garryduff Road, passing Garryduff Presbyterian Church along the way.
It will then make its way through Dunloy, Cullybackey, Ahoghill and Randlestown, before completing the first leg of 32 in Antrim.
The bear will then ride pillion on motorbikes of all sizes and styles around Northern Ireland, visiting seven counties, non-stop.
The Bear will finish his tour of Northern Ireland in the early hours of Monday morning.
It will then board the ferry to Scotland, travelling on another 40 bikes through Scotland, reaching John O'Groats on the 5th July.
By the 7th July. it will have crossed into England where it will meet the other travelling bear at the Angel of the North.
From there, they will make their way across England & Wales and will also be catching a ferry to the Isle of Man, in another first for the Relay.
Having started in Ballymoney on 28th June, and in Mablethorpe on 29th June, the two bears will reach the final of the Relay Riders UK event on the 19th July. Having travelled day & night, and covered well in excess of 12,000 miles – most likely through rain & shine.
Each year, Relay Riders try to maximise the amount raised for their chosen charity, or charities. Everything from holding member auctions to name each bear, followed by auctions to own each bear after the finish, as well as raffles and other fundraising along the way.
This year, they are well on their way to their target amount. And if they can raise enough, it will mean that since the Relay started back in 2014, the annual event will have raised more than £100,000 for multiple UK charities in that time.
