At midday yesterday motorcyclists of the Bermuda Long Riders Motorcycle Association began a 48-hour charity ride in support of the Bermuda Diabetes Association. Lead biker was Carlton Smith.

Before the start excitement was high as one by one the classic Harley-type motorcycles lined up outside City Hall. Some sported signs in support of the cause and most participants were clad in black Long Riders T-shirts and traditional Harley Davidson helmets.

Minister of Health Patrice Minors was on hand to officially start the event, travelling by motorcycle from the House of Assembly to City Hall. She was returned on the back of the motorcycle of Beresford ?Nine Eggs? Wade.

Each group will ride a circuit down to St. George?s and then travel the length of the Island up to Dockyard and then back to Hamilton. Change-overs will take place at the starting point, City Hall.

Depending on traffic each full circuit of the Island should take between two and three hours to complete. Some riders will do more than one circuit in the two-day, non-stop ride.

Organiser Keith Dubois said the riders are regular fundraisers and when they heard that the Bermuda Diabetes Association was in need of funds they quickly answered the appeal.

?Diabetes strikes everybody in someway in Bermuda,? he said. ?It is relentless right now.?

Illustrating the reach of the disease, rider Mr. Wade said he himself is a diabetic.

The fundraising is said to be going well and pledges have been coming in, but riders say they would welcome support and the public can stop them to make donations or go to one of the rest stops in St. George?s, Dockyard or City Hall in Hamilton. They may also get in touch with Keith Dubois on 505-7327.

Money raised will got to the Bermuda Diabetes Association and be put towards the dream of a diabetes dispensary for people struggling with the huge expenses of diabetes medication.