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Classic cars are a source of joy for their owners – why not share that joy with children who are in need? That’s the idea behind Sporting Bears Motor Club, a group of classic car and sports car enthusiasts who come together to raise money for good causes and make children’s dreams come true.

If you’re a classic car owner, you might think about using your own vehicle to support Sporting Bears. As well as promoting a good cause, it can be a great way to meet other classic car lovers. Just make sure your motor is covered by classic car insurance so it can go on helping people for years to come.

What does Sporting Bears Motor Club do?

The Sporting Bears Motor Club’s main activities are all about raising money for good causes. Since the Club was formed in 1989, over £2.4 million has been raised for children’s charities, with annual fundraising of around £200,000 per year.

The Club also organises ‘dream rides’ for disadvantaged young people, such as those living with disabilities or long-term illnesses. This gives the youngsters a once-in-a-lifetime trip in a classic or sports car to a special point of interest.

Club membership

The club has a national network of regional groups that raise money through a number of activities.

There are eight groups around the country, from the Southern England group (known as the Koalas) to the South West group (the Surfing Bears), the Northern and Scotland group (Polar Bears) and the Northamptonshire and surrounding countries group (Shire Bears). The first groups started in Cambridge and the Midlands.

These groups hold lots of different fundraising events. There are regular Club nights, where members meet up to discuss all things ‘classic car’ and plan their next fundraising initiatives.

There is a quarterly magazine called The Bear Facts that is packed with facts about classics and updates on recent events, as well as other motoring highlights.

Dream Rides

There’s nothing like lighting up someone’s face by giving them a breathtaking ride in a gorgeous classic car. Dream Rides involve classic car owners taking a passenger for a ride in their precious vehicle – the trips are usually about 10 miles in total.

The passenger makes a donation to charity in exchange for the ride. The car owner provides the vehicle, their time and covers any costs in fuel or transportation, insurance and so on.

Sporting Bears organises regular Dream Rides and they are usually a wonderful experience for both driver and passenger. There is immense satisfaction in using your car to brighten someone’s day, and know you will be benefiting charity at the same time.

Classic cars are the most common vehicles for Dream Rides but any other exciting vehicle such as a sports car, exotic car, kit car or vintage car can be used.

Dream Rides for children

Each year, 10 families supported by Sporting Bears go to the Rolls Royce factory in Goodwood for a very special event. The families have a VIP day to remember, being given a chauffeur-driven tour of the capital in epic style.

This kind of event is not about fundraising – it’s about making memories for young people that will last forever. With a full police escort, 10 Rolls Royces give children and their families a tour of central London before arriving at a very special venue. Recent venues include Windsor Castle, 10 Downing Street, Westminster Abbey and Buckingham Palace.

The families are accommodated in style, too – the 5* Hilton London Metropole Hotel provides enviable accommodation while they are in the capital. It’s a brilliant experience for families to step away from their everyday struggles and experience something inspirational and uplifting.

Fundraising events

Local members attend over 50 events each year throughout the UK. This includes major events on the motoring scene such as CarFest and other smaller fetes and festivals around the country.

The Sporting Bears also regularly attend the Lancaster Insurance Classic Motor Show at the NEC. As well as showcasing some of the most beautiful classic cars, the show helps to raise money for children’s charities through partnership with Sporting Bears.

At events, attendees pay for 10-minute dream rides in classic cars. The size of the donation is left up to the passenger – some people can be very generous! The car owners are kind enough to lend their time for free, as well as covering their own costs in terms of accommodation, classic car insurance, fuel, and trailer costs. This means every penny raised goes straight to the charities who make such good use of the money collected.

Raising money in a pandemic

2020 has not been an easy year and with so many events being cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic, it has also been tough for charity fundraising. Thankfully, the Lancaster Insurance Classic Motor Show went ahead online, with a series of live broadcasts hosted by Wheeler Dealers’ Mike Brewer – who also happens to be the Club’s patron.

The online event raised a whopping £45,000 for the Sporting Bears Motor Club, matching the best year ever of fundraising at the NEC event. More than 200,000 people watched the streams connected to the event, with 25,600 engaging with comments and likes.

This amazing result means that the charities supported by the Club will receive support in this year, despite the hard conditions we all face during the pandemic. If you missed any of the action,  

Which charities are supported by Sporting Bears?

Club members nominate children’s charities for support by the club, meaning the causes always stay dear to members’ hearts. The causes receiving funds do change from time to time, but recent recipients have included Great Ormond Street, Children in Need, Bluebell Wood Children’s Hospice, Teenage Cancer Trust, Together for Short Lives, Diabetes UK, Barnardo’s and Jigsaw.

There are also many local charities linked to hospitals, hospices or other care settings that receive funds from Sporting Bears.

Should you get involved with the Sporting Bears?

Members find being part of the Sporting Bears a truly rewarding experience. Whether it’s meeting up with other classic car enthusiasts, attending car-themed events to help raise money or using your own classic car for fundraising dream rides, supporting the Sporting Bears can open up a new world of enjoyment and philanthropy.

If you need classic car insurance for your vehicle, look no further than Lancaster Insurance. Get in touch for a quote today.

Policy benefits, features and discounts offered may very between insurance schemes or cover selected and are subject to underwriting criteria. Information contained within this article is accurate at the time of publishing but may be subject to change.