The Ride Cymru Knievels
Being Evel for a Good Cause

Story and photos by Marilyn Stemp

In today’s accelerated era of digital media, so-called cultural icons appear in an instant – only to be replaced by the next one moments later. But before cable companies and digital media, in the dark ages of only three major networks on TV, it took nerves of steel and major chutzpah to get attention on the international stage. And the few who managed it had way more staying power than today’s fleeting flashes; much more.

Witness the legend of Evel Knievel, a man whose name has lost none of its recognition and whose fame has retained all of its cred over many decades. How do I know? Well, one of Knievel‘s most memorable jumps happened more than 50 years ago, at Caesar’s Palace in 1967, and you know who he is, right?

That’s why it was intriguing to learn early this year that a group of 50+ riders from the United Kingdom had planned a week-long event to commemorate another timely Knievel milestone, the 50^th anniversary of the daredevil’s ill-fated jump at Wembley Stadium in London. More impressive still, they’d invited the Knievel family to attend and participate. It happened in May and included steam train rides, boating on an ancient aqueduct, world heritage landmarks and impressive fundraising for a kids’ charity, which was the actual point.

The week-long event got underway in the town of Corwen in Wales, an historic town tucked in a lovely pocket of green countryside likely populated by more sheep than people. Why gather here? Because it’s the home of Jason Lewis, the man who started this group of crazy cats in 2012, under the banner “Ride Cymru.” (Cymru is the Welsh language name for the country of Wales.) Their motto? Being Evel for a good cause.

Lewis was first inspired to try fundraising when his brother fell ill in 2012. That first year, four riders covered the perimeter of Wales and garnered £4000 – so they kept going. Said Lewis, “In 2015, for the 40th anniversary of Evel’s jump at Wembley, I thought we’d introduce a bit of daft fun, I wanted it to be a little bit Monty Python. I thought, if we replicate Evil Knievel, we’re gonna take people back to their childhoods. He was a legend, he was a hero. He wore a suit. We need a suit! There were only a dozen of us, but the response we had riding around Wales that year was fantastic and we thought, right, we’ve got to keep this going.”

When Lewis received an email from Evel’s daughter, Alicia Knievel Vincent, who’d seen them online, he took it as a thumbs-up approval from the family. “She said what we were doing was a great legacy for her dad. He would be proud,” said Lewis.

So each year, the Ride Cymru Knievels have planned a charity ride. Many are Welshmen, some English, there’s Sikh Knievel from Canada and even one Yank from the States showed up this time. Imagine it: 50 riders in a parade line, dressed in red, white and blue leathers, capes flying, helmets painted, bikes customized to match. Yeah, they’re hard to miss. 

The route changes each time and various charitable cause have benefitted. For the last several years, they have ridden to benefit The National Society of Prevention of Cruelty to Children (NSPCC), a UK-wide children’s charity operating since 1884. (That’s not a typo.) NSPCC offers a confidential lifeline by phone available across the UK 24/7 to kids experiencing abuse. They also teach adults to recognize signs of abuse and report them. Said Jess Finnegan, head of community fundraising for Wales, “I had a phone call three years ago from Jason, and he said they wanted to do a bike ride to raise some money. They literally showed up to the office on the bikes, all in Evel Knievel suits, and I just fell in love with them all, their spirit and energy. They’re insane!”

To mark the Wembley 50^th anniversary in 2025, a plan was made to ride as a group from Wales to London and into the new Wembley Stadium to celebrate the occasion. How else to make this ride over the top? Why, invite Evel Knievel’s family to attend, Lewis figured, and that’s what he did. Evel’s son Kelly, daughters Tracy and Alicia and their spouses came along, plus several grandchildren. This allows Ride Cymru to make the claim of being the only UK Club and Event endorsed by the family of legendary motorcycle daredevil Evel Knievel. Said Kelly Knievel, “The Wales people exceeded expectations. It was actually touching how they received us and treated us.”

Events included a Knievel Family Q&A, gatherings at the storied Ace Café, exclusive access inside Wembley Stadium and a literal Knievel takeover of the London Bridge.

Two of the Ride Cymru riders, Hillary and Mike Denison, had an historic claim: they were present in the original Wembley Stadium when Knievel jumped – and crashed – his motorcycle there in 1975. And they had the ticket stub to prove it! Said Hillary about the 2025 event, “Riding through London, we stopped traffic! Mothers pointed us out to their children, children waved, and motorists gave us a path. I felt like a rock star! I don’t know what we’re going to do next because Jason (Lewis) just can’t top this year.”

To that point, in 2026 Lewis’s plans a ride from back lanes to pit lanes, first circumnavigating the 1070-mile outer perimeter of Wales then taking laps on two iconic motor racing circuits. In 2027, they’re coming to the States to ride Route 66.

At the final tally, the NSPCC added a significant £40,000 to their account and as a grassroots group, Ride Cymru has raised almost £300,000 for charity since inception. Very respectable, indeed.

Doing good for kids in need? Motorcycle riders worldwide have proven that’s possible. And if you have fun in the process, there’s nothing evil about that.

Resource: https://www.facebook.com/ridecymru/