Big Hearted Bikers Help Jeans For Genes At Ace Café

Bikers from across Europe will be helping to give children with genetic disorders a future when they attend this year’s Ace Cafe Reunion. Thousands of riders make the annual pilgrimage to the legendary Ace Cafe on the old North Circular in London and this year they’ll be aiming to raise £100,000 for Jeans for Genes.

The money will help to fund the creation of the Jeans for Genes Genetic Roadmap. Researchers at the Institute of Child Health (the research arm of Great Ormond Street Hospital) want to identify the ‘main roads’ - the key genes which cause genetic disorders. They can then move on to the B roads and gradually build more and more of the ‘roadmap’ so they can understand more clearly the causes of genetic disorders.

Andy Copp, the Dean of the ICH says;

“There are lots of different pieces of information that come from different sources about genetic diseases. It’s only when we get the full picture (the entire road network, not just the location of the main towns and cities!) that we’ll be able to design the best methods of treatment.”

Every half an hour a child is born in the UK with a genetic disorder or birth defect. There are more than 4,000 known genetic conditions, many of which have no treatment or cure.

The Ace Cafe Reunion Weekend takes place on the 7th/8th/9th September and bikers can get involved by having their ride-in to the Ace on Saturday 8th sponsored. Entry is simple – just visit the Jeans for Genes website at Jeansforgenes.com/acecafereunion to register and download a sponsorship form.

All the riders get the chance for a break at the Jeans for Genes check point in Brunswick Square, close the ICH in central London. Between 10am and 5pm, they can get their entry cards stamped and get the weekend off to a great start by meeting up with friends.

The ride then carries on to Ace where the bikers’ cards will be entered into a prize draw. Attractions at the Cafe will also include Stormin’ Norman with his supercharged twin-engined Triumph 'Conquest', a motorcycle celluloid and DVD show, DJs and live music.

Mark Wilsmore from Ace Cafe London says:

“Bikers and jeans are the perfect combination so we’re delighted to be involved in creating the Jeans for Genes Roadmap! Far from the stereotypical image, bikers can be incredibly generous and warmhearted and if they get to ride at the same time as supporting a fantastic cause, so much the better!”

The Ace Cafe Reunion is now in its 14th year. The cafe is on the junction of Beresford Avenue and the old North Circular Road, between the A40 and the A404 (Harrow Road).

More details can be found on their website Ace-cafe-london.com.