Heroes on two wheels: Bikers are all

By Miranda Robertson miranda@westdorsetmag.co.uk

A group of Dorset and Somerset-based heroes on two wheels are riding the equivalent of more than five times around the world every year – saving lives and saving the NHS hundreds of thousands of pounds as they go.

YFW Blood Bikes are the oldest surviving blood bike group in the country, helping transport vital blood, platelets, blood and tissue samples, medication, breast milk, documents, CT scans, and equipment to hospitals, hospices, and nursing homes as well as private addresses across much of Somerset and all of Dorset.

The volunteer bikers transport some 3,500 packages a year. Many of these are ‘category 1’ life saving deliveries. Last year they made more than 1,800 out-of-hours deliveries. The group was launched in 1978 by Cecil Turner. It is a registered charity and member of NABB – the Nationwide Association of Blood Bikes (NABB).

They currently operate a fleet of eight motorcycles,

Dorchester and Wincanton and provide their services completely free.

Volunteer Tony Colston said: “We have never had financial support from national or local government nor from the hospitals that task us, neither do we charge for any services.

“All our members are volunteers, receiving no remuneration or expenses at all. We operate all year round, riding in all weathers whenever we are needed, 24 hours a day, entirely free specialist laboratory for analysis or deliver equipment to an operating theatre.”

The bikers operate 24 hours a day, seven days a week, 365 days a year, collecting and delivering to hospitals, hospices, nursing homes, laboratories, and patients. Their bases are Yeovil District Hospital, Dorset County Hospital in Dorchester and Musgrove Park Hospital in Taunton. All the riders have either Institute of Advanced Motorists Roadsmart, supplies and equipment where they are needed. There are just over 100 volunteers in all – 70 of them riders – and YWF are always looking for volunteers for riding, fundraising and admin and dispatch.

YFW Freewheelers are part of a nationwide network of nearly 4,500 volunteer Blood Bikers who between them responded to over 163,000 urgent requests for assistance from the NHS in 2021 alone. Around 36 different groups operate across the UK, with riders often coordinating pick ups and deliveries nationwide. Locally, the blood bike team currently comprises of nearly 100 men and women, all of whom are volunteers, giving their time and energy free of charge.

In recognition of these efforts, they were awarded the Queen’s Award for Voluntary Service in 2021 –the charity equivalent of an OBE.

As a charity, YFW Freewheelers rely entirely

Lifesavers

on donations from the public and local businesses to keep them on the road. Servicing costs for the group’s current fleet of nine motorcycles and one Dacia 4x4 car (all proudly displaying the nationally recognised blood bike emergency response livery) runs at around £85,000 per year. This pays for the maintenance and rolling replacement of the bikes, fuel, servicing and new tyres. Tony said: “Many people want to know why we use motorcycles rather than cars. The most important reason for this is because they offer a unique capability to deliver a fast, efficient, reliable and consistent emergency courier service, largely unaffected by traffic. As a result, our blood bikes enable the rapid redistribution of essential supplies between hospitals and care homes as well as facilitating quicker sample analysis, quicker patient diagnosis and quicker discharge or transfer times for patients than would be possible by car.” n yfwbloodbikes.org

YFW Freewheelers also have an internal team of qualified trainers that routinely revalidate training and riding standards. And, in addition to their riding skills, our riders have also been trained to meet NHS Good Distribution Practice for blood samples and medication.

The Dacia 4x4 takes the strain when it’s too dangerous for the motorcycles to be on the roads due to hazardous road conditions – torrential rain, fog, snow or ice. Volunteers come from all walks of life and range in age from their early 20s to late 80s.

0300 030 1180