Motorbike ride to raise money for family of Keaton Slater
An organiser hopes over a thousand bikers will attend
Last updated 7th Jul 2024
Hundreds of bikers will take to the streets of Coventry on Sunday for a sponsored ride in memory of 12-year-old Keaton Slater who was killed in a hit-and-run.
Police are still looking for Dolars Aleksanders - the man they believe was behind the wheel of the black BMW that they say hit Keaton while going well in excess of the speed limit.
Trevor Fox, who helped organise the ride, said: "Hopefully the family are going to be there, there's a car for them to travel with us depending on how they feel.
"This still needs to be at the forefront of people's mind because the perpetrator of the accident is still free.
"If the weather's good, I would hope for around a thousand people, and then there'll be people on foot coming to show their support along the route."
Crimestoppers issued a reward of up to £10,000 for information leading to Aleksanders's arrest, and West Midlands Police confirmed an international manhunt is now underway for the 21-year-old from Latvia.
A week on from Keaton's death, hundreds of people came together dressed in Coventry City's sky blue and released balloons in his honour during a vigil on Radford Road where he was killed.
A series of flowers and tributes have been laid at the spot where Keaton was killed on June 14.
Trevor Fox said: "Every day when I'm going past the memorial no matter what time of day it is, there's someone there showing their respects. I get upset just thinking about what the family are going through and what happened to Keaton."
A JustGiving page for Keaton's family has raised over £57,000 thanks to donations from individuals, community groups, schools and nurseries after a flurry of fundraising efforts across the city.
Trevor Fox said: "It's just tragic that it has to take something like this to bring the community spirit together , but I'm also proud that the people have Coventry have got together and people all around the Midlands and further afield have shown their love and support to the family."
The ride starts at 4:30pm on Sunday 7 July at the Aldi on Radford Road, and loops around the ring road, Holyhead Road, Tamworth Road before finishing in the Old Shepherd Pub to raise a glass for Keaton. Bikers will make a £5 donation to take part.