“I first heard about Northumbria Blood Bikes at a Bike Show with a mate (David Richardson). Both of us ended up volunteering for NBB soon afterwards, can’t remember exactly, but early 2014 probably. I joined because I think the work is essential, I wanted to give something back, I wanted to meet interesting people, and I love riding - what’s not to love?
Mainly I’m a rider at the moment, although a bit of fundraising and I ought to be a driver too. I do find it difficult to fit in volunteering, if I am honest, but I do what I can and when I can.
“I first heard about Northumbria Blood Bikes when I was asked to run a photo booth at a fundraising Ball. I joined as a volunteer fundraiser in 2015 because I wanted to make a different. I’m a single parent so I volunteer when my son is away from home as it keeps me busy.
Volunteering has introduced me to many new people. It has encouraged me to complete my CBT and start learning to ride a motorbike.
Northumbria Blood Bikes, a registered charity established by local volunteers to deliver essential blood and urgent medical supplies, out of hours, between hospitals and healthcare sites in North East England, has been honoured with the Queen’s Award for Voluntary Service for 2017, the highest award a voluntary group can receive in the UK and the equivalent of an MBE.
