William Astley Memorial Bike & Car Run to support Blood Bikes South East

Family, friends and supporters will come together this Sunday, August 9th, for the William Astley Memorial Bike & Car Run, raising vital funds for Blood Bikes South East while celebrating the life of a man remembered for his kindness, generosity and love of helping others.

The memorial run, which also marks what would have been William's birthday, honours his passion for motorbikes and the many causes he supported throughout his life.

William was a dedicated volunteer with Blood Bikes South East, an organisation that provides an emergency medical transport service across the region. Operated entirely by volunteers, the charity delivers blood, medical samples, medicines, donor breast milk and essential medical equipment to hospitals seven days a week, helping ease pressure on ambulance services.

Speaking on Morning Mix, William's mother, Mary Astley, his brother, Joseph Astley, and Blood Bikes South East volunteers Keith Deacon and Abraham "Fish" Allen reflected on William's lasting impact on his family, friends and community.

They described him as larger than life, with a great sense of humour and a willingness to help anyone in need.

William's commitment to charity began at a young age. He took part in fundraising initiatives such as Shave or Dye for cancer research, volunteered with the Help Me Through the Night mental health café and later became a volunteer rider with Blood Bikes South East.

Through his work at John Paul Construction, he organised a recycling initiative that raised money for Blood Bikes South East and the RNLI, while also arranging charity awareness talks for colleagues at Rosslare Europort.

The memorial run will begin at the Tintern Complex in Ballycullane, with registration from 10am and departure at 12 noon. Entry is €15 per vehicle, which includes a raffle ticket.

Organisers say the route has been specially chosen to pass places that held special meaning for William, making the day both a celebration of his life and an opportunity to continue the charitable work he cared so deeply about.

Even those unable to take part in the run are encouraged to support the fundraiser through the raffle or by making a donation, helping Blood Bikes South East continue providing its lifesaving service to hospitals across the South East.

The Astley family hopes the annual memorial run will ensure William's kindness, generosity and community spirit continue to make a difference for years to come.

They also wish to express their heartfelt thanks to everyone who has supported the event. From sponsors and volunteers to those who donated prizes, time and resources, they say the memorial run simply would not have been possible without the extraordinary kindness and generosity of the community.