15 December 2015
Before the Fat Man comes down the chimney I thought I’d write this message to all our website visitors.
What a FANTASTIC year 2015 has been, thanks to all our Members, our “Customers”, sponsors, those who’ve worked to Fundraise for us and those who have made donations or collected for us.
We have recently burst through the 18,000 missions barrier in just 43 months, with over 8,000 runs this year alone, an incredible achievement by any standard, and I can assure you, that figure is far higher than any other Blood Bike Group in the UK and Ireland. We have been bestowed several awards and have been nominated for the Queens Award to Volunteers and will find out whether we have won or lost in May/June 2016, but win or lose the fact that we have been nominated is a fantastic accolade to you all.
We have new members coming on all the time, but sadly losing a few members on the way, due to work/family commitments, but that is inevitable with a charity doing what we do.
read full story05 December 2015
Well, we were warned by the weather people, and they got it dead right. Many roads in Cumbria are closed and we had to suspend call-outs simply because of flooding and high winds. However Graham Jones in his trusty Land Rover made the trek North and is managing to get through where mere cars, and certainly bikes, can’t. Latest reports are that it will get worse before it gets better.
read full story15 November 2015
Saturday night 14-15th November 2015 and we were tested by severe weather and the decision had to be made for two of our areas to close down. The North, covering South Cumbria and North Lancashire was suffering from extreme weather, high winds and heavy rain causing flooding in many places, and the East, in the crook of the Pennines, was suffering similarly, the East Rider suffering from a tree log colliding with him, damaging the front wheel of the bike, fortunately the rider was uninjured.
As a result both those areas were closed down until they are deemed safe. The Hospitals concerned have been informed and are fully understanding of the situation.
read full story07 November 2015
07 November 2015
On average, over the past 3 years we have been called out approximately 7,000 times, but so far this year we have been called out 7,265 times and it’s only the beginning of November, so it’s going to be our busiest year so far, and we are by far the busiest and largest Blood Bike Group in the UK. We are coping, but we desperately need more Riders and Controllers. We also need people who are free during the day to take Donor Breast Milk from Royal Preston Hospital to Neonatal Units around the North West. This doesn’t happen on a regular basis, but occasionally goes mad.
If you have been thinking about joining us, just do it :-) The moral rewards are fantastic, just to think you may have helped to save a life, is reward itself. Many of our volunteers do what they do because they have something to pay back to our much maligned NHS. The staff at the hospitals are our lifeline at some stage in all our lives, so if nothing else it’s great to make friends there :-) All you have to do is hit the “Contact” button on the top bar of the website and someone will be in touch with you. Take care and ride safe.
read full story31 October 2015
Saturday 31st October 2015, the night of Halloween, the North West Blood Runners completed their 17,000th call out. Dave Meredith riding and Steve Brown Controlling. This is in just 42 months and it’s all down to the dedication of all the Members. Blood Bikes across the Nation do this every day, helping the sick by transporting urgent and emergency, blood, samples, platelets, etc., between Hospitals, saving lives and the NHS money. Huge testament to all our members. Well done
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23 October 2015
In September 2015 we were notified that we had been shortlisted as finalists in the NHS North West Supply of the Year Awards 2015 and asked to attend a Dinner. This was a significant achievement given the number of entries received.
The Award ceremony was held on the evening of Thursday 22nd October 2015 and Lee Townsend and his wife Helen represented us all at this event. The idea being just to be there. To our surprise at 21:30 it was announced that we had won the Community Care award, which was fantastic and unexpected, then at 23:00 it was announced that we had also won the most prestigious award, the NHS North West Supply of the Year Award.
This all goes to show what we are thought of by all our hospitals in the North West and testament to the loyalty and care all our members have to this great charity.
read full story22 October 2015
Saturday & Sunday 17th/18th October saw the official opening of Bowkers new BMW motorcycle showroom, on the docks at Preston, having taken over Southport Superbikes. NWBB Lancs & Lakes were invited along and besides getting to know Bowkers better, we were awarded a Community Hero Award, which was accepted by Lee Townsend, one of our Area Managers on behalf of the whole charity. Pictures to follow.
read full story30 September 2015
Saturday 19th September 2015, we held our third Black Tie Ball at the Dunkenhalgh Hotel, Accrington. Each year the event is organised by our Vice Chairman, Scott Miller, his wife Danielle and her friend Rachel, and this year they surpassed all expectations. Two of the Emergency Bikers, from TV, Angus Nairn and Steve Harris attended as our guests and Angus has agreed to be a Patron of NWBBLL. We managed to raise £5,750 on the night and everyone there thoroughly enjoyed themselves. We have already been asked for tickets for next year, so watch this space.
read full story24 September 2015
This year is looking to be the busiest on record for us, we have flown straight through the 16,000 call out barrier with hardly a thought, (Julie and Campbell McCorkindale being Controller & Rider). It’s only September but already we have completed 6,124 since 1st January 2015 and 6 were relay runs to the south, some direct from our hospitals and some from further north.
We are all particularly proud of North West Blood Bikes Lancs & Lakes, but just as proud of being part of a brother/sisterhood of Blood Bikers Nationwide. What we do matters and helps an ailing NHS, but more importantly helps the sick, something we are all likely to be at some time in our lives, so LONG LIVE BLOOD BIKERS.
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