Why I volunteer…
“I attended a few meetings in 2012 called by the Nationwide Association of Blood Bikes to try to encourage bikers in the north east to set up a new group to cover Northumberland, Tyne and Wear and County Durham. Some of those who attended the meeting decided to try to set up a group, we had to choose a name and 'Northumbria' seemed the best fit. We started in late 2012, I'd decided to get involved because I'd recently retired and it looked like something I could contribute to, I'd been a biker since I was a teenager and had been a blood and then platelet donor almost as long.
I already had an advanced riding qualification so started with riding, I've since done my advanced driving to drive for the group and have done coordinating (not as often as I'd like though!). You'll find me fundraising, where the chat with the public and the other members is great, and I also love doing talks for the group where it's difficult to shut me up! At the initial meeting of what became the group I thought I might become the Treasurer but two others wanted to do that so I ended up as Chairman and have done that since.
Sometimes my daily life has to be fitted in around what I do for the charity but it all seems to work out somehow. I also volunteer for two other charities so that takes a bit of time and have grand kids in Hertfordshire and Kent and get down there as much as possible but doing shifts on a bike or a car is a great opportunity to clear the mind and just concentrate on that.
It took us nearly 18 months of fundraising, recruitment of volunteers, training, negotiation with hospitals and setting up of systems before we went live. When we did, in February 2014, it was the best feeling ever. The commitment of so many people to make it happen, and still make it happen, is staggering.
There have been lots of occasions when the importance of what everyone does has been brought home to me, perhaps the most memorable to was a couple of months ago when I was privileged to be invited to the Great North Air Ambulance's one year anniversary celebration of their carrying Blood on Board (BoB). We, and our colleagues in Blood Bikes Cumbria, transport the blood boxes to the two air ambulance bases every night of the year so that blood, and now plasma, can be transfused at scene helping to save lives. Everyone who was a survivor because of a BOB transfusion was invited to the anniversary celebration - they all came. Afterwards one gentleman approached me and very discreetly handed me a cheque saying he had been the first to benefit from BoB and wanted to say 'thank you'. That was quite memorable but then his wife who had been hovering in the background came up and said "and you couldn't have saved a nicer man". I still well up thinking about that.
If there was one thing you could say to somebody who is thinking of joining/volunteering, what would that be?
If I were to say one thing to those of you who are thinking of joining us as a volunteer it would be “You'll make a difference to people's lives - including your own. Join in!”
My name is Peter Robertson and that is why I volunteer for Northumbria Blood Bikes.”
#VolunteersWeek #MakeADifference #BloodBikes
Photograph of Peter was taken at a handover in a cross country relay, originating in Dumfries, ending in Norwich (frozen sample for specialist analysis). Taken at handover on A69 with Blood Bikes Cumbria, Peter then handed over to White Knights (Yorkshire group) at Scotch Corner.
