'A sight to see': Huge crowds cheer 1,200 bikers in record-breaking Durham Easter run
Hundreds of people lined the streets of Darlington as a record-breaking 1,200 bikers revved their way through town for the Durham Easter Egg Run 2025.
Easter bunnies, minions, and even a few of the Avengers took over the roads on Easter Sunday (April 20) as the highly-anticipated charity event returned.
It took about 25 minutes for all bikers to make their way along Woodland Road into Darlington Memorial Hospital, beeping their horns as ecstatic onlookers waved on.
The event has been a staple since 2005 when just a few hundred bikers took part - but this year, a staggering 1197 joined in, the most ever.
The Durham Easter Egg Run 2025 (Image: CHRIS BOOTH)
The Durham Easter Egg Run 2025 (Image: CHRIS BOOTH)
Organiser Graeme Mills, 51, who runs the event alongside Tony Hudspith, said he 'couldn't believe' the 'unbelievable' turnout from both the public and participants.
Graeme, from Haswell, told The Northern Echo: 'It was 897 I think last year… I never expected to get 1,200 this year.
Organiser Graeme Mills (Image: THE NORTHERN ECHO)
'It's quite emotional and overwhelming but because we've had the police support this year, and everything's run pretty smoothly. It's all gone quite well.
'We've got the staff at the hospitals coming out, and the public support lining the streets on the way down was absolutely phenomenal.
'It was brilliant and it's great to see the amount of people that show their support for the NHS and the charities that we support.'
The Durham Easter Egg Run 2025 (Image: CHRIS BOOTH)
The Durham Easter Egg Run 2025 (Image: CHRIS BOOTH)
The bikers set off from the Durham Tesco in Dragonville at 10am, travelling en-masse to Darlington Hospital and arriving at around 11am.
The break meant children had a chance to see the bikes up close and personal and so people could deliver Easter eggs to the children's wards.
Biker Jean Parker only passed her test last year, having spent the best part of the last three decades riding on the back of bikes - so today was special.
Biker Jean Parker (Image: THE NORTHERN ECHO)
'It is amazing', she told The Northern Echo on her break at the hospital. 'All the groups are just incredible, they really club together to help out.
'It makes you feel part of a big family.'
The 53-year-old really got into the spirit of the event, throwing on a bunny costume and adding some face paint to complete the look.
'I've been eating dandelions', Jean, who was watched on by her brother, two nephews, niece, and three cousins, joked.
The Durham Easter Egg Run 2025 (Image: CHRIS BOOTH)
The Durham Easter Egg Run 2025 (Image: CHRIS BOOTH)
'My partner has been riding for years but I passed my test at the end of the season last year.
'It is totally different riding when you are in charge of your own bike, it's amazing. I never thought so many people would come out.
'It gives you little butterflies in the tummy.'
Hundreds of people watched along Woodland Road as the bikers arrived, flocking to greet them before they returned to Durham to deliver eggs to the University Hospital.
Stephanie Bagley, 38, who watched on with William, five, said she didn't know how many bikes to expect and was thrilled with the turnout.
'It goes quite quick actually', she said. 'The kids are there going 'look at that one! Now look at that one!' William's favourite was Captain America'.
Rachel Lister, who was watching with Glenis Harrison, said: 'It's good fun. It's just a nice thing to do on Easter Sunday.
Rachel Lister and Glenis Harrison (Image: THE NORTHERN ECHO)
'It's an impressive sight and I love the effort that people put in with the bikes and costumes.'
Glenis added: 'It's part of our tradition on Easter Sunday, we do it every year. Rachel's husband Graham does the bike and it's our other granddaughter on the back of the bike.
'We walk down, it's a family thing, and then we'll go back and have Easter lunch together, 13 of us! So it's just part of the tradition.'
One onlooker, who wished to remain anonymous, branded the event as 'amazing': 'It is outstanding how many bikers there were. It's just fantastic'.
The Durham Easter Egg Run 2025 (Image: CHRIS BOOTH)
The Durham Easter Egg Run 2025 (Image: CHRIS BOOTH)
Another woman said it was 'absolutely fabulous', adding: 'There are all these horrible things going on in the world but this is kindness. It's just lovely.
'I live over the road so I usually watch from there but I thought I would turn up at the hospital. There seems to have been an awful lot of bikers this time which is lovely.'
Some of the charities benefitting from the run today include the Teenage Cancer Trust, Stray Aid, Feeding Families, Miles for Men, and the Northumbria Blood Bikes, among others.
At the time of writing, more than £5,000 had been raised on the GoFundMe page, with hundreds more expected from fundraising across the day.
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Graeme said it was 'quite the sight to see' - and was proud of everyone taking part.
He said: 'I'm pleased so many people have come out to support what we do, because without the support of the public and the bikers, Durham Easter Egg Run wouldn't happen.'
You can donate to the fundraiser here: https://tinyurl.com/4zz4aysa
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