Blood Bikes volunteers receive special honour
The Shropshire, Staffordshire and Cheshire Blood Bikes team have been given an honorary Chief Executive’s Award. Tracy Bullock, chief executive, presented the team with a certificate to say thank you for the service they provide to patients and staff at UHNM. The team ride through all weathers at short notice to transport everything from blood and organs to breast milk.
Ian Bentley, North Staffordshire lead, (pictured centre), said: “Shropshire, Staffordshire and Cheshire Blood Bikes are a registered charity and all of our members are unpaid volunteers. They are not in it for the recognition, but it is really wonderful to be thanked and recognised in this way.”
Mick Mallin, pathology warehouse manager at UHNM, (pictured far right), said: “The riders drop blood samples to all the Birmingham Hospitals on a daily basis free of charge, along with night time call-outs to transport blood for the UHNM blood bank. They save the hospital thousands of pounds per year as we previously had to use taxis for every run.
“Recently it was Blood Biker Awareness Day and I posted a picture of our team in Pathology with the Blood Bikes riders on social media, thanking them for the work they do. This prompted a lot of comments and thanks from people, including the neonatal intensive care unit, who they transport milk for. It’s great to see the team recognised.”
Tracy Bullock presented the team with an honorary Chief Executive's Award in recognition of their services
Mark Castle, volunteer blood bike rider, (pictured left), said: “My wife died of cancer at the age of 32. When something like this happens it really puts life into perspective. I am someone who has always given back and I have always been into motorbikes, so the two things sort of came together.
“Today I’m on my way to Sheffield, the other week I received a call to go to Birmingham and didn’t get back until 11pm. Sometimes you don’t know whether you will get a job or not, but you take what comes your way. It’s recently been my one-year anniversary of joining the team so getting this award is really nice timing. I’m happy to help.”