Fundraiser says biker still leaves 'big hole' since fatal A10 crash
It's 10 years since a fundraiser in Phil Beeton's memory began
One of the organisers of a fundraiser in memory of a biker killed on the A10 in Cambridgeshire has said he still leaves "a big hole" in his life.
More than £200,000 has been raised through Phil's Ride for the East Anglian Air Ambulance (EAAA) since 2016 in memory of Phil Beeton who died after a collision between Ely and Cambridge in October 2015.
The idea - which takes place every August bank holiday weekend - brings bicycles, motorbikes and walkers together from around the country.
"The decision was to help the family of Phil and give them a purpose so they know we'll always remember him," David Fletcher, who helps organise Phil's Ride, said.
"Every time they (Phil and his partner Jane) were there (at the pub), there was never not a fun evening; it (Phil's loss) did leave a big hole in the atmosphere at the pub."
Highest point on Earth is next test
To mark a decade of fundraising for the EAAA, a team of Phil's family and friends led by Phil's brother David are heading out to climb Mount Everest within a two-week period
It is thought to be the team's biggest challenge yet since Phil's Ride launched.
"The thinking is because we've been doing this for 10 years and every year, different parts of the team have done big challenges, we wanted to round out our final year of challenges by doing the biggest thing we could possibly think of," David said.
"Nine of the team are going (and) they're all raring to go; none of them are concerned about going whatsoever and they're all really happy!"
After nine years, Phil's Ride raised more than £170,000 with around £30,000 still to find to reach the £200,000 mark.
David believes without the generosity of villagers and local communities, that figure may not be reached.
"I think a lot of the people that donate to us are people who've been touched by the work the EAAA do," he said.
"The motorcycle ride is because Phil was a biker and a lot of motorcyclists would know they could, one day, use the services of the EAAA even though they probably wouldn't want to.
"So, they (the EAAA) are there and it's nice to know the reassurance that the EAAA can carry on doing their work."
Air ambulance 'instrumental'
Phil was travelling in a van with his nephew Jack when the collision happened; Jack survived.
One of the EAAA crew members called to the scene at the time was the current Prince of Wales, who served as an air ambulance pilot with the charity between 2015 and 2017.
In 2019, it's thought a record number of motorcyclists turned up for Phil's Ride, with 99 riders taking on the annual ride between Southery and Blakeney in Norfolk and 200 people in total.
David hopes that Phil's legacy can live on through the fundraising work and the EAAA's work.
"The EAAA played such an instrumental role in the accident on that day in 2015; sadly Phil wasn't saved, however his nephew Jack is alive today because of the EAAA," he added.