First Night Riders Kick Off June 21

	The First Night Riders' 2013 ride will tour Oxfordshire, Cambridgeshire, and the Midlands on motorcycles and in vintage vehicles from June 21 - 24.

The First Night Riders charity motorbike and classic car adventure embarks from London's Roundhouse this Friday, June 21 at 10am to raise money for The Theatrical Guild's vital work. It is noted there is still time to get involved.

A host of high-profile heroes and heroines are participating in First Night Riders 2013, including film director Vadim Jean, who'll be riding his Triumph Thunderbird, and director of the Theatres Trust Mhora Samuel, who is taking a ride in the back of Industry PR firm The Fifth Estate's Bentley R Type.

More than 14 motorbikes and three classic cars will be travelling over 600 miles to visit a selection of Britain's most iconic theatres as the route takes them from London to Oxfordshire, Cambridgeshire, and the Midlands from June 21 - 24.

"Now is the time to get involved!" says Sarah Rushton-Read from The Fifth Estate. "The aim -- in addition to having fun, of course -- is to raise as much money as possible to help fund The Theatrical Guild's incredible support for backstage and front-of-house workers who are in financial need, eager to be retrained after a period away from the industry, or experiencing severe hardship. This really is a fantastic way for the industry to give something back and assist the people who make the world of theatre happen."

Rushton-Read is offering rides in her Bentley R-Type along legs of the route (which can be found at www.firstnightride.com/page6.html) or the chance to have your company's logo displayed on the Bentley as it tours the route and is the focal point for photo-calls at the various pitstops at iconic theatres, for a donation to The Theatrical Guild (email sarah@thefifthestate.co.uk).

All participants and sponsorship opportunities can be found at www.firstnightride.com/page4.html.

So far, this year's sponsors include ABTT, Anderson & Co Sweden AB, Anderson & Pennington, AVW Controls, Belmores Solicitors, Blackout, Blitz, Charcoalblue, DSR Industries, DWD Theatre Design, ETC, Flints Theatrical Chandeliers, Haworth Tompkins, Hawthorn, J&C Joel Ltd, PLASA, Rope Assemblies, Rose Brand, Sapsis Rigging, Set-up Scenery, Stage Freight, The Mackintosh Foundation, The Fifth Estate Ltd, Triple E, and Unusual Rigging.

Alan Jacobi, managing director of Unusual Rigging comments: "The Theatrical Guild is one of the oldest charities in our business, supporting both backstage and front-of-house people without whom we would not have the theatres to work in. Unusual Rigging is delighted to support The First Night Riders in raising money for this very worthwhile cause."

"We're enormously grateful to the sponsors who have become an important and integral part of the First Night Riders event, making all the hard work worthwhile by enabling us to really make a difference in people's lives -- the often unsung heroes of the entertainment industry," says co-organizer David Edelstein. "There are many people still in need of assistance via TTG, and extra funding is vital to help them continue their important work. If you or your company is able to get involved, please get in touch with me asap on david.edelstein@3-eee.com."

President of The Theatrical Guild, Phyllida Law says, "We love the First Night Riders and their passion for raising money for our charity. It's vital that people from our profession make sure that those colleagues who may become vulnerable can be protected and supported. Thank you to everyone who's getting involved this year!"