201610 Newsletter October 2016

NORTHUMBRIA BLOOD BIKES

October 2016 - Please feel free to print, copy, save or forward this newsletter to increase awareness of our charity!

Providing effective and timely transportation of essential blood and medical products Registered Charity Number 1166689

More info on pages 12, 13, 14 & 15

They say you can do a lot with the new plastic fivers.

How about donating it to charity?

Pledge to give your first new plastic £5 to us and together we will #MakeaDifference #firstfiver #givefive You can also make a one-off donation using your mobile telephone.

Simply text "NBBC33 £5" to 70070. You can donate other amounts (£1, £2, £3, £4 or £10) simply by replacing £5 with the amount you'd like to give.

We would like to extend our congratulations to our volunteer Adam Morris and his bride on their wedding day.

Adam is one of our dedicated volunteers so we do hope that he and his wife enjoyed their honeymoon and well deserved rest.

We wish them all the best for their future Providing effective and timely transportation of essential blood and medical products life together!

Registered Charity Number 1166689

From Monday 10th October the Newcastle Chronicle will begin printing The Chronicle's Wish 2016 tokens. We're pleased to announce that we've been accepted to take part. This year they have a £25,000 cash pot to share among all the groups on the Wish list. No groups will miss out, but the bigger our share of the tokens, the bigger the slice of the cash.

This is where you come in: we need your help. Four tokens will be printed a day for four months & also watch out for bonus tokens too. Please spread the word with your friends, family, colleagues & everyone you know that every token counts!

Please send your tokens to: Northumbria Blood Bikes 30 Sheridan Drive East Stanley County Durham DH9 6YU

Volunteer Graham Moor was proud to be invited to take the ‘Mark Master Mason’ bike to visit The Grand Lodge of Mark Master Masons, in London.

Earlier this year we announced that this bike was sponsored by The Mark Benevolent Fund. They have sponsored not only the purchase but also the running costs of the bike for a year £18,000.

Providing effective and timely transportation of essentialtotalling blood and medical products Registered Charity Number 1166689

Last of the Summer Claret The Bebside Inn, Blyth, held another weekend in aid of raising funds for us. A storm, on the Thursday before the weekend, threatened to put the dampeners on the fun but, luckily, by mid-afternoon the skies cleared up and the masses started to arrive. It kicked off with ‘Dirt Monkey’ who kindly donated their fee to the fundraising pot; Followed on Saturday by ‘Work In Progress and ‘King for a day’. The Bebby was rocked by the fantastic sets and there are so many people who helped throughout the weekend. We would like to say a huge thank you to everyone who made this possible and an even bigger thanks for raising £1115.45!

Providing effective and timely transportation of essential blood and medical products Registered Charity Number 1166689

Clennell Hall, Harbottle, Biker Fest on 10th September. With live music from bands ‘Crooked Road’, ‘Accept No Substitute’ and ‘The Bushwhackers’ then an unmarshalled ride out. Malcolm was proud to accept a cheque for £1260 on our behalf. Thank you to all those involved who worked so hard over the weekend to raise funds for Northumbria Blood Bikes.

Many people will be familiar with our talks co-ordinator Nigel Barlow. We constantly receive great feedback from talks that he’s given and from other volunteers that have become his ‘apprentices’. Recently we’ve seen demand for speakers increase and we therefore need some more of our volunteers trained up to support with the increased load.

We are currently looking at holding a training session for those that are interested at Tesco Newcastle Extra, (Kingston Park), on Saturday 29th October 1pm until 3pm. There will be a form available on our website for you to register your attendance (Login>Members>Forms>Register). Once this is available we will let you know.

In the mean time we’re calling upon our current registered speakers to take a look at the calendar and contact Nigel Providing effective and timely transportation of essential blood and medical products if you’re able to help talks@northumbriabloodbikes.org.uk.

Registered Charity Number 1166689

Why I Volunteer...

Ever since I walked to school I would dream of owning a BMW or Mercedes. Aye, times were hard, that was all my pocket money away. Since then I am happy to say that I did eventually pass my motorcycle test, my car driving test and HGV test - all first time. I passed my IAM motorcycle, car and commercial test, RoSPA car and motorcycle at gold level. I have driven vehicles all my life having owned a black taxi, (and eventually a BMW and Mercedes), for twenty five years in Edinburgh before retiring early a few years ago. I love touring abroad on my bike and any excuse will have me riding a couple of hundred miles in the UK to meet a mate for a coffee.

I’ll go anywhere on my bike, at home or abroad, if time allows, just ask me. Yes, motorcycling is my hobby.

And so it was, on a bike tour in Slovenia in the scorching heat I failed to recognise the symptoms of dehydration. 13 years ago this month, my life was in the hands of a Thoracic Surgeon in Slovenia who had to operate to stop blood from entering my punctured lung because of five broken ribs. Once he succeeded in this, and several days later, other surgeons were then able to operate on two breaks to my spine, fixing pins and screws to hold my spine together, ooh, and the easy part, my left clavicle.

After more than a few weeks in intensive care I was transferred to high dependency, where I was taken care of until I was strong enough to breathe again on my own without the aid of a machine. Also without all the other amazing pieces of machinery that had kept me alive.

At this point I had only discovered how long I had been under sedation, from 24 July, to the day the doctor wished me happy birthday for yesterday. “But my birthday isn’t until August” I said. “Yes”, she said, “it’s the third of August!! Heck, I thought, where did last week go?

It was much later when my travelling companions came to visit me in Glasgow Southern General Hospital that they told me that on the evening they visited me in Slovenia, they had asked if they could visit me in the morning before they left for the rest of their tour in Europe. They were told not to bother returning in the morning as the doctors did not expect me to survive the night.

So I spent many weeks in high dependency and many more months in GSGH. I couldn’t move my legs, just a tingly feeling all the time, couldn’t detect the ‘pin or cotton wool’ test very well. But it didn’t stop me from trying. Then one day my big toe moved, just a little and only once, until the next day and it moved again.

Thereafter I spent every day in the exceptionally well equipped gym being strapped into various types of equipment building up my strength in an effort to walk again. As I was told that I may never walk again, I asked how did they see me leaving here, I was told probably in a wheelchair, ‘maybe’ on crutches. It was eight and a half months before I returned to work and even then it was part time. To this day I suffer from spinal cord injury; the nerves will never fully recover in my legs.

Being self-employed it also took some time to recover financially. I was often asked; will I ever return to motorcycling, will I ever get back on a bike? Of course I will, when I can afford it, I still had a mortgage to pay.

So some three years later I was coerced along to a demo day where I ultimately purchased my new bike, a BMW R 1200 RT, and took up where I left off. A few weeks later we were in Spain.

Providing effective and timely transportation of essential blood and medical products Registered Charity Number 1166689

For many, many years I donated blood and platelets to the National Blood Transfusion Service. Now I am no longer able to donate blood as I have received blood myself. If it wasn’t for the Slovenian blood donors who had taken the time to donate blood, if it wasn’t for the skills of dedicated surgeons, if it wasn’t for the skills of dedicated doctors, and if it wasn’t for the skills of dedicated staff in the NHS, where would I be?

So if blood donors can take the time to donate blood; if dedicated and skilful doctors and surgeons can take the time, years to learn a skill, and if dedicated and skilful nurses can take the time, years to learn to take care of patients, I can take the time, a few hours of my bonus years of life, to fill a small link in the chain. If a surgeon, a doctor, or a patient requires a lifesaving piece of equipment, drugs, blood or platelets instantly, call on any of us at Northumbria Blood Bikes.

Volunteering as a rider for NBB means I am able to continue doing what I love doing, my hobby, riding a motorcycle, whilst helping someone somewhere save the life of someone who desperately needs someone’s help.

My name is Jeff Glen and that’s why I volunteer for Northumbria Blood Bikes.

Providing effective and timely transportation of essential blood and medical products Registered Charity Number 1166689

Malcolm Farley entered this year’s Carole Nash calendar competition for 2017. Thanks to everybody’s votes we become one of the 12 lucky finalists. He was invited down to Leeds for the photo shoot and will be featured in next year’s calendar. As his entry photograph was one of him volunteering on one of our bikes we are excited that a blood bike will be included.

Check out the 12 finalists www.carolenash.com and let them know your favourite by tweeting @insidebikes to help them decide on the top three.

Malcolm is Mr November on the calendar. The selected finalists will be informed on Friday the 7th of October but won’t be revealed to the public until the 19th of November at the Motorcycle Live event.

Good luck Malcolm and thank you to everyone that voted to get him this far!

Providing effective and timely transportation of essential blood and medical products Registered Charity Number 1166689

We attended the motorcycle exhibition on at the Discovery Museum on the 10th September.

The exhibition depicted the Dene Motorcycle Company which was based in Newcastle in the early 1900's. Two motorcycles were displayed, on loan from Beamish Museum, a 1912 Dene Precision and a 1924 Dene Jap with sidecar. There was also a real Challenger II tank parked outside the main entrance. Throughout the day our volunteers increased in numbers to support with the stand and a few of our vehicles showed up to put on quite an impressive display.

Providing effective and timely transportation of essential blood and medical products Registered Charity Number 1166689

We ventured up to the Harbottle show. We were welcomed by a chainsaw created bear and all the excitement of a traditional country show.

Providing effective and timely transportation of essential blood and medical products Registered Charity Number 1166689

The epic weekend that is Stormin the Castle. Our team of volunteers manned our stand all weekend while enjoying all that is Stormin. We received a donation of a bike shaped wood burner, (many thanks Kitson Warrener – Neat Woodburners), to raffle off and raise extra cash. Congratulations to the lucky winner! Our guys had a cracking time and heard some unbelievable stories. The weekend added a massive £1111 to the NBB pot! Incredible and we thank you all.

Hope to see you again next year!

Providing effective and timely transportation of essential blood and medical products Registered Charity Number 1166689

The weekend of the World’s greatest heart marathon! We got our Great North Runners together for a group photograph - above. We were fortunate to be joined by two of our patrons, Professor Bob Jarman and Carol Malia who wished them well. Our biggest team of runners we’ve had to date with 21 running for Northumbria Blood Bikes have raised around £8,000. They were joined by 5 runners who are raising funds for the Nationwide Association of Blood Bikes who have raised around £2,000.

The runners all put a massive amount of effort into training and fundraising, we can't thank them enough. Below – some of the team preparing for the run on the day.

Providing effective and timely transportation of essential blood and medical products Registered Charity Number 1166689

We were extremely proud that our new Yamaha lead Mo Farah from Newcastle to South Shields to his third win.

We were also very fortunate to be able to ride some of our fleet (the rest was on duty) across the Tyne Bridge on the course route. This gave us the opportunity to capture some amazing photographs and video footage. Thank you to our photographers, riders, drivers and Jessie Blue Films. You can take a look at the video via: http://northumbriabloodikes.org.uk/media/NBB_GNR_2016 Also, many thanks to those who granted us the honour and gave us the relevant permissions to be part of this incredible day.

Providing effective and timely transportation of essential blood and medical products Registered Charity Number 1166689

Mile 10 a sight for sore eyes, knowing there’s another 3 to go, but also a beautiful sight for our runners who were cheered on by our team of volunteers.

Providing effective and timely transportation of essential blood and medical products Registered Charity Number 1166689

Well done to you all and thank you!

Providing effective and timely transportation of essential blood and medical products Registered Charity Number 1166689

Northumbria Blood Bikes merchandise can be purchased from: http://northumbriabloodbikes.org.uk /merchandise/reddog       

Embroidered Cap Unisex Hooded Sweatshirt Unisex Zipped Hood Original Cuffed Beanie Bag For Life Canvas Classic Shopper Ladies Authentic Zipped Hood

10% of your purchase will be donated to Northumbria Blood Bikes

In other news…       

West Auckland WI donated £85 Alnmouth WI donated £166.72 Washington Rotary Club donated £400 PMR – DCA, North East Support Group, donated £142.67 Beamish WI donated £66.75 Fells Angels WI donated £136.55 Members are invited to attend the monthly coffee morning on 30th October at South Shields (full details available on the calendar – login required)  Tesco Stanley Annfield Plain door collection raised £340.74 (Pictured right)

Providing effective and timely transportation of essential blood and medical products Registered Charity Number 1166689

AGM – Newcastle Civic Centre – Photograph courtesy of volunteer Noel Harris

Providing effective and timely transportation of essential blood and medical products Registered Charity Number 1166689

The volunteer of the year was awarded to Malcolm Farley. A few months ago we asked our members to nominate who they thought deserved this award.

Although we value every volunteer and the selection panel took careful consideration when choosing the winner of our first outstanding volunteer award.

Malcolm’s name pops up quite frequently and even features in this month’s newsletter already. Thank you Malcolm for your enthusiasm and drive supporting Northumbria Blood Bikes.

Thank you to everybody who nominated one of your fellow volunteers.

This year we have seen a few changes take place within the committee and at our AGM Peter Robertson, (pictured on the far right), stepped down as our chair. Peter has been a valued member and we would like to thank him for all the years he has guided our charity.

We wish him the best of luck with his new challenge as Chair of NABB (Nationwide Association of Blood Bikes) and will welcome his continued support going forward. Barry Bullas MBE, (pictured left of Peter), presented Peter with a print of his favourite NBB photograph. Barry has taken on the task as our new Chair.

We would also like to thank Chris Mitchell who has stepped down from his role as secretary.

Providing effective and timely transportation of essential blood and medical products On the next page you’ll find the current Registered Charity Number 1166689 committee members and their positions.

Current in office committee members: Chair – Barry Bullas – chair@northumbriabloodbikes.org.uk Vice-Chair – Mike Thompson – vice.chair@northumbriabloodbikes.org.uk Secretary – Rob Wilks Treasurer – Alan Johnston Fleet Manager – Richard Scholfield ICT – Mark Richardson Membership Officer – Debbie Paton – membership@northumbriabloodbikes.org.uk Rota Manager – Steve Rawlings Fundraising Coordinator – Graham Moor – fundraising@northumbriabloodbikes.org.uk or 0191 364 3113 Publicity / Media Officer – Kirsty Lawrence – publicity@northumbriabloodbikes.org.uk or 07849 830467 Hospital / NHS Liaison – Sean Storey Rider / Driver Training – Geoff Spencer

Contacting the Committee If you have a question for any member of our committee you can contact us by telephone on: 0191 364 3113 or use our contact page found on our website http://www.northumbriabloodbikes.org.uk/contact

Providing effective and timely transportation of essential blood and medical products Registered Charity Number 1166689

FUTURE EVENTS FOR YOUR DIARY: Lots of things happening, and we need your help to support them! If you can help, even if only for a couple of hours, please contact us….information is at the bottom of this page. NBB members can register their attendance for most of these events on our website (login required).

October Saturday

1st

New Member Induction 9:00 until 12:00 – (Full details on the event calendar login required) Coordinator Training 12:30 until 14:00 - (Full details on the event calendar login required)

October

October

October

Friday

Saturday

Sunday

21

st

22

nd

23

rd

Tesco Hexham A fundraising and awareness stand with a blood bike.

October Saturday

29

th

Speaker Training / Familiarisation Training Tesco Newcastle Extra (Kingston Park) 13:00 until 15:00 - (Full details on the event calendar login required)

October Saturday

29th October Sunday

30th November Saturday

5th

Superheroes Day 10:00 until 15:00 Locomotion in Shildon. Full details available on the calendar

Members Coffee Morning 10:30 until 12:30 South Shields Come along to the member coffee morning, put faces to names and meet new and old members.

(Full details on the event calendar login required)

New Member Induction 9:00 until 12:00 – (Full details on the event calendar login required) Coordinator Training 12:30 until 14:00 - (Full details on the event calendar login required)

www.northumbriabloodbikes.org.uk facebook.com/northumbriabloodbikes twitter.com/northumbriabb linkedin.com/company/2866951

FUNDRAISING HOTLINE: 0191 364 3113 - for any opportunities to increase our funding through sponsorship, locations for collecting tins, supermarket events etc…

Providing effective and timely transportation of essential blood and medical products Registered Charity Number 1166689