'BloOd Bikes' Road Run, 2023

by Barry Job

The 'Nationwide Association of Blood Bikes' was formed to provide a professional rapid response medical transport service.

It is a free volunteer motorcycle courier service to carry urgent medical items, especially blood for transfusions and vital organs for transplants, between hospitals and medical centres. Otherwise paid couriers or ambulances would have to be employed for these tasks. Thus 'Blood Bikes' saves the NHS money or increases ambulance availability time. The 'Blood Bikes' Association is divided into separate local groups across the country. Each group is a separate charity supported by local donations.

This Road Run was conceived and ably organised by Roger Perry who has supported 'Blood Bikes' for many years. The 24 mile route covered an area to the west of

Stafford. On Saturday 3rd June, 41 tractors gathered in a field off Watery Lane, Haughton. After a Safety Talk by Roger they set off promptly at 11 o'clock through the villages of Ranton and Ellenhall to skirt around the town of Eccleshall. An off-road section brought them past Sugnall Hall to Offley Brook and the halfway stop at the Star Inn at Copmere End. Suitably refreshed the convoy proceeded through Garmelow and Whitley Heath to arrive back at Haughton.

This was an attractive route, the weather was superb, everything went well and everyone agreed it had been a great day out. Even though it was a small event it raised nearly £650 for the charity. 'Blood Bikes' may not be as well known as some of the national charities yet they provide a vital service to help save countless lives.