“I found out about Northumbria Blood Bikes after I done a search online post discussion with some ex work colleague bikers who are blood bikers in other parts of the UK.
I applied in January 2019, being retired now and willing to support a very useful cause. I am a fairly new volunteer just beginning my role with the charity. I am currently Rider but would also like to become a Driver longer term. I am pretty flexible being retired now so will see how this pans out when I have completed the familiarisation phase and eligible to be put on the rota.
“I first heard of Northumbria Blood Bikes on social media when a call was put out for volunteers. I joined up as a volunteer in August 2018 as a controller, as I was able to help from home, but I have also been helping with fundraising.
I work full time 9 to 5 so I find it easiest to volunteer for the Saturday day or evening shifts. I'll work the week day evening shifts when I have days off from my work so I don't have to worry about getting home in time.
“A friend of mine passed his ROSPA advanced riding test, and on one of our weekly jaunts on our own motorcycles (which always involve a coffee and cake stop!) he told me about this great charity which is made up of volunteers who transport blood, samples, etc. around the hospitals in the North East. I’ve since learned they also supply blood to the Great North Air Ambulance!
A couple of weeks ago we shared the disappointing news that one of our volunteers had his personal kit stolen whilst on shift volunteering. Thank you to all the companies and individuals who offered to donate replacement equipment. We were overwhelmed by the support shown and the kind offers of donations. Our volunteer has now had all of his equipment replaced, thanks to the generosity of the good folk out there, which has enabled him to get back to volunteering straight away.
We are greatly saddened that on Saturday 18th May, at around 11.17am, one of our volunteers’ was subject to a theft of his equipment whilst on shift at the RVI Leazes Wing. It was a very busy Saturday morning and our volunteer had just received two jobs but as he prepared to leave he had a request for go back inside for another urgent job. He went back inside to the reception desk to pick up the details of the additional job then returned to the blood bike to discover that his helmet and gloves had been stolen.
We’re very grateful to those that organised and attended the Durham Egg Run this year for their kind donation of £500. We had a great time at the event and are looking forward to next year.
On Wednesday evening we were invited to attend the Morpeth Mayor Making. The newly elected Mayor or Morpeth, Alison Byard, made the tremendous announcement that she has chosen Northumbria Blood Bikes as the charity she will be support whilst in office. Not only has she already put plans in place on how she will supporting our charity she is already part of our #BloodBikesGNR team 2019; along with her running buddies Claire Lancaster and Lesley Athey. We are looking forward to working alongside Alison and are wishing her the best of luck during her time as Mayor.
We are always looking at new ways to support our work and making it easier for people to support us financially. We are embracing new technology in the form of these new devices. They are contactless donation terminals. We expect that they will be present at many of our forthcoming events, and at static points in the region.
