THE Merseyside Pirate Run is back for its fifteenth year with a weekend party, live performance and motorcycle ride out.

The charity event will kick off at Molly's Chamber in Birkenhead with a performance from the band, Alabama, at 7pm and continues at the venue from noon tomorrow for the ride out – with beers, bands and raffles to follow.

Along with Heretics WMC, Dr Elizabeth-Jane Peatfield has hosted the charity event to support children living with cancer after starting in 2006 to fund the cancer treatment of friend’s son, Nathaniel.

Dr Peatfield said: "We now work with and raise money for Children's Cancer Support Group (CHICS) Wirral, a local organisation that helps local children and their families at a time when support is critical. Not only the survival of the child who is ill but the family that support them.

"The run was established in 2006 to support one of my friends, their son was diagnosed with a clear cell sarcoma in his brain when he was 11. It was touch and go for many years if Nathaniel would survive.

"This is a very aggressive cancer, so the idea was to find a way to help make his life and that of his twins a little easier.

"Of course, being bikers, we decided to ride around dressed as Jack Sparrow and party to raise some fund. Got to love that Pirate spirit.

"Nathaniel is now 25 and a father of his own children, a black belt, world power lifting champion, working full time and a biker which is the important bit.

"Unfortunately, not all families have the result that Nathaniel and his family had and so it is important for us to keep helping out."

The bikers will also support JourneyMEN, a local charity that supports men's mental health.

The ride out will honour 'Tommo', a friend of the bikers who sadly passed away last year.

Dr Peatfield added: "Tommo was the first to help anyone and to cheer them up and so it just showed us how the smiley life and soul of the party can be the saddest person in the room.

"This is why men's mental health came on our radar and the work that the JourneyMEN do.

"Bikers, most of whom are men, are big, tough, roughty toughty and they are the ones that often won’t ask for help but desperately need it.

"As a group of ladies, our club hopes to support men's mental health as its the ladies in many families that have to pick up the pieces when their partners are broken. So this is for us as well as you guys."

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