Dave Day 2025: how print helped unite the route

There are some people whose presence feels larger than life, not just because of what they do, but how they do it. Dave Myers was one of them. Best known as one half of the Hairy Bikers, alongside his friend and co-presenter Si King, Dave brought joy, warmth and humour to millions through their shared love of food, travel and good company. Together, they rode the length and breadth of the UK and beyond, exploring regional recipes, championing community stories and cooking hearty dishes from the saddle of their motorbikes.

When Dave died in February 2024, the outpouring of public affection was immediate and heartfelt. Friends, fans and fellow riders wanted to do something meaningful to honour him, not just once, but every year. That’s how Dave Day began — not simply as a memorial, but as a celebration of everything Dave stood for: friendship, generosity, curiosity and the thrill of the open road.

Dave Day 2025 riding into its second year

The first event in June 2024 saw tens of thousands of bikers travel from London’s iconic Ace Café to Barrow-in-Furness, Dave’s hometown, forming one of the largest motorbike ride-outs the UK has ever seen. At its heart was a deep sense of shared purpose to remember a man who brought people together through simple pleasures and a passion for life.

Now in its second year, the 2025 edition built on that spirit, with an even broader programme of events including live music, celebrity football, a raffle to win a custom bike and a festival atmosphere in Barrow that welcomed bikers, locals and supporters from across the country.

Who benefits from Dave Day?

As well as bringing people together, Dave Day raises money for two charities close to Dave’s life and legacy. Proceeds are split 50/50 between the two.

The first is NSPCC Childline, the UK’s 24/7 confidential helpline for children and young people. Every day, counsellors at Childline support those experiencing abuse, bullying, mental health challenges and more, offering a safe space at the time it’s needed most.

The second is CancerCare North Lancashire and South Cumbria, a regional charity providing free counselling, therapy and practical help to anyone affected by cancer or bereavement. With centres in Barrow, Lancaster, Kendal and Morecambe, the charity supports families across a wide area, including many in the community where Dave grew up.

In addition to these two nominated charities, bikers attending the event were asked to bring a non-perishable food item to be donated to local food banks.

Solopress helping to bring visual unity

In the months leading up to the event, organisers Woody and Adelle approached Solopress with a clear challenge: how to apply their designs to printed materials in a way that would create a consistent visual experience from the point of departure in London to the celebration at the destination in Cumbria.

By applying the brand assets established by the organisers, and in some cases redrawing elements to suit large format print, we were able to supply a mix of products that reinforced the spirit of the event at every stage.

From start to finish

At the Ace Café in London, a landmark location in the biker community and the official starting point of the ride-out, we produced Flags and Banners that welcomed attendees and set the tone for the journey ahead. Those same visual elements also featured in Barrow-in-Furness, Dave’s hometown, where they appeared around key locations including the concert site, the football ground and the stunt show arena. The aim was to give attendees a strong sense that they were part of a single, shared experience, no matter where they joined the celebration.

Along the route, we produced printed adhesive graphics for event vehicles, helping identify organisers and support cars in a way that was both practical and in keeping with the Dave Day branding.

We also created a run of our newly introduced Shiny Stickers as a keepsake for attendees. Featuring the “Have a Dave Day 2025” logo, with an illustrated image of Dave himself, these stickers were die-cut to shape and printed on our new holographic material. As a small but eye-catching memento, they helped spread the message and gave participants something lasting to take away.

What’s on: Dave Day weekend 2025

Following the remarkable turnout in 2024, Dave Day returned in June 2025 with a full weekend of activity that brought thousands together in memory of a much-loved figure. The scale of the event grew in every sense: in distance, spectacle and the number of people involved.

On Saturday 21 June, the motorbike ride-out began once again at London’s Ace Café. Bikers travelled north via the M6 Toll, with charges suspended for the motorcade, and on to Barrow-in-Furness, Dave’s hometown. The ride was led by friends and family, including Si King and Lili Myers, retracing the same route from London to Barrow-in-Furness that first brought fans, riders and communities together to remember Dave.

That evening in Barrow, the focus shifted to live music. A headline concert featured tribute acts performing hits by Dave’s favourite bands, with Darren Wharton’s Renegade delivering a set of Thin Lizzy classics, and Hells Bells, Europe’s longest-running AC/DC tribute band, closing the night.

A packed programme

Sunday’s programme offered a broad mix of activities across the town centre, all free to attend. Events included:

• Motorbike stunt displays from On the Edge
• A food and drink festival showcasing regional producers
• A motorcycle exhibition curated by Barrow BID
• A health and wellbeing event in Barrow Park
• A special Dave Myers exhibition at The Dock Museum
• A celebration dinner attended by Si and Lili
• The Dave Day Charity Football Match at Barrow AFC’s Holker Street ground

The match saw ex-professional footballers and celebrities line up alongside the Dave Day bikers and event sponsors. Organised by North West Community Stars and managed by former Aston Villa defender Shaun Teale, the fixture promised “so much more than just a football match,” according to NWCS founder Dan Ferguson. “Even if you don’t like football or have never been to a match before, please consider coming along. I promise you will absolutely love it and we always have a couple of surprises.”

The legends side featured familiar names from the Premier League and international football, including Rickie Lambert, Colin Hendry, Gavin McCann and Jamie Milligan. The bikers team was managed by Tony Hesketh, returning to Barrow after previously managing the club in the 1990s. “It’s a real privilege and an honour for me to be involved,” he said. “To return to Holker Street and manage the Bikers against a legends and celebrity team will be great fun and I’m sure provide lots of entertainment.”

Sponsors step forward

Sponsors such as Amber Taverns, Robert James Solicitors and Employee Management Ltd helped make the weekend possible. Amber Taverns backed both the football match and Sunday’s Main Stage, with operations director Gary Roberts highlighting their commitment to community initiatives: “These sponsorships reflect the company’s commitment to supporting both local community events and vital charitable causes.”

Another significant addition in 2025 was the Dave Day Food Bank Appeal, encouraging all ride participants to bring non-perishable goods for donation. With support from Amber Taverns, the appeal extended to pubs across the North West, broadening the event’s impact and supporting families facing food insecurity.

A major fundraising draw also ran alongside the weekend’s events. The prize was a one-off custom Dave Day Royal Enfield Shotgun 650, donated by Orientation Marketing and raffled online to support the event’s charities. Co-founders Chris and Gareth, both bikers and one a Barrow native, also took part in the ride.

A message from Lili

For Dave’s wife, Lili Myers, the weekend was as much about hope as remembrance. “I lost Dave to cancer, and the statistics are dire. One in two people will be affected by derivatives of this illness in the following years. As a community, we can support institutions that work towards finding a cure and organisations that help families going through tough times dealing with cancer.”

Her message to those attending or following the event was clear: “We encourage people to help raise awareness, to donate if they can afford to, to sponsor an event that happens during the weekend. It is with the support of our sponsors and others like them that this will be a Dave Day to remember.”

Support the cause

Dave Day is a celebration with a purpose. It honours the life of someone who brought people together through kindness, humour and shared passions, while raising vital funds for two charities doing life-changing work. If you would like to support the causes behind the event, NSPCC Childline and CancerCare North Lancashire and South Cumbria, donations can be made via the official fundraising page. Every contribution helps these organisations continue their essential work supporting children, families and communities across the UK.