AN OXFORD teenager who has spent the past five years in and out of hospital helped hand out gifts to children being treated there.

Fifteen-year-old Jake Spicer, from Shepherds Hill, Blackbird Leys – who has a rare form of bone cancer called Ewing’s Sarcoma – joined 164 bikers as they roared up to the Oxford Children’s Hospital for their annual toy run.

The Oxford chapter of the Harley Davidson Owners Group, of which Jake is an honorary member, has been carrying out its special Easter delivery for the past 10 years and yesterday handed over hundreds of pounds worth of toys and gifts to children being treated there.

Oxford chapter director Pete Davies said: “There were children in the windows waving and smiling and people on the streets waving.

“The aim is always to arrive en masse, making a hell of a lot of noise because it drives the kids wild and they think it’s great.”

Thanks to Jake, the convoy had an accompaniment of two police motorbikes.

Mr Davies said Thames Valley Police had refused to provide an escort for operational reasons, but had a change of heart after Jake wrote a “heart-wrenching” letter to Chief Constable Sara Thornton asking her to reconsider because it was likely to be the last time he would be able to be involved.

Jake was too poorly to ride on a motorbike as he had done in previous years, but accompanied the convoy in a special Harley Davidson-branded Ford pick-up truck, looking after the gifts and toys.

His mother Lesley said: “Jake said it was absolutely amazing, he really enjoyed it.

“I’m definitely proud of him for getting the police bikes – what Jake wants, he normally gets and he always aims high. He supports things like this because he’s been in the same situation and he likes to help others.”

In the past, Jake has been on the receiving end of the presents handed out — but Mrs Spicer said he had refused a gift this year and instead the family had brought something to give to youngsters being treated at the hospital.

Mrs Spicer said: “There are a lot of other people out there who haven’t had something from the riders and we have.

“People think they are big bikers with a bit of an attitude but they are the most kind, friendliest people you can imagine.”

fbardsley@oxfordmail.co.uk