Whiteknights Yorkshire Blood Bikes would like to echo the sentiment expressed in the first Christmas Day message from His Majesty King Charles lll, to thank all our volunteers who have given the precious commodity of their time, to support a charity.

Over Boxing Day and the Bank Holiday thanks go to volunteers: Adam, Mark, Ian, Steve and Roy in the South Yorkshire region and John and David in North Yorkshire.

Meanwhile in West Yorkshire, on Christmas Day, Volunteer Rider Laurence received a warm welcome and a breakfast roll at Overgate Hospice from Steve Whittaker and Director of Clinical Services, Tracey Wilcocks to recognize Laurence’s volunteering and his fundraising for the hospice.

Whiteknights work, Out-Of-Hours, during the night and so we are rarely seen by the public. It’s wonderful to receive thanks from the clinical staff and institutions we are proud to support all-year round.

(Picture courtesy of Overgate Hospice.)#bloodbikes

We wish all our friends and supporters a very Merry Christmas from every volunteer at Whiteknights Yorkshire Blood Bikes.

As always throughout the festive period we’ll be making urgent deliveries – free to the NHS – by volunteer motorcyclists.

Introducing just some of our volunteers on duty this Christmas Eve and Christmas Day across Yorkshire – for South Yorkshire are John and Paul.

Merry Christmas everyone! #bloodbikes

Volunteer motorcyclists in Yorkshire who transport urgently needed blood samples and medications during the night free-of-charge to the NHS are appealing for the loan of a vehicle to keep them on the road this winter.

The vehicles that had been loaned to Whiteknights Yorkshire Blood Bikes by local Franchise Dealers have had to be returned because of the lack of availability of new cars.

Now, this potentially live-saving voluntary service, which this year has already received 2000 urgent call-outs, is at risk because of the dangers of riding the blood bikes in freezing road temperatures. 

Chairman of the Yorkshire Blood Bike charity, Andrew Foster explained: “The Out-Of-Hours service we provide to the hospitals and hospices in Yorkshire during the night and at weekends, is a unique service where we are prepared to transport single items urgently. It might be a blood sample, COVID swab, medications or case notes. If we don’t deliver it, the NHS and clinical centres pay for a private-hire taxi to transport it. This can generate a huge cost to the NHS.

“We have a fleet of 8 bikes and volunteer riders on duty every night in North, South and West Yorkshire. It’s a marvellous charity and we are hugely valued by the clinical staff in the Yorkshire hospitals and hospices we serve.

“We would very much like to hear from any motor traders and dealers who could loan us a vehicle to use this winter to keep us on the road regardless of adverse weather conditions in the far-reaching areas of Yorkshire we cover.”

For further information contact us: 07970 224420

Facebook.com/Yorkshirebloodbikes

www.whiteknights.org.uk

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During this period of national mourning for Her Majesty. the late Queen Elizabeth II, Whiteknights Yorkshire Blood Bikes remain committed to serving their communities.

Here’s an update of our recent activities to benefit hospitals and hospices in Yorkshire. 

Barnsley Freemasons, Keresforth Lodge have generously donated £1000 to Whiteknights Yorkshire Blood Bikes. Pictured are Lodge Trustees Brian Upton, Neil Horbury and Roger Harvey. Receiving the cheque from them is Chris and Michael from Whiteknights South Yorkshire.

During this period of national mourning for Her Majesty. the late Queen Elizabeth II, Whiteknights Yorkshire Blood Bikes remain committed to serving their communities.

Here’s an update of our recent activities to benefit hospitals and hospices in Yorkshire. 

Tony and Laurence from Whiteknights West Yorkshire are pictured volunteering their Advanced Rider skills as safety marshals at the recent Midnight fundraising walk for Overgate Hospice.

We continue to support the marvellous work of our colleagues at Overgate Hospice. We are delighted to be of assistance.

Expressing our deepest sympathy, Whiteknights Yorkshire Blood Bikes acknowledge the death of Her Majesty, Queen Elizabeth II.

We send our condolences to the Royal Family and pay tribute to her seventy year reign. Her commitment to the service of our country and the Commonwealth will be an enduring legacy.

Whiteknights Yorkshire Blood Bikes would like to thank Tesco Queensbury for their recent fundraising efforts to support the Yorkshire Blood Bike charity.

Over £700 has been raised from book sales and a collection outside the store.

Pictured are Whiteknights riders and Whiteknights’ Fundraising Manager, Mike Heath with Queensbury Tesco Branch Community Champion , Debbie Ayr alongside Tesco colleagues.

A West Yorkshire based company has paid for over 5500 urgent Blood Bike journeys to support the NHS, during its two-year sponsorship of Whiteknights Yorkshire Blood Bikes.

Volunteer Motorcyclists gathered at the Elland Headquarters of Terberg DTS UK Special Vehicles to publically thank the Terberg Charitable Foundation.

Whiteknights Yorkshire Blood Bikes West Yorkshire Manager, Matthew Butterfield commented: “Terberg has fuelled our fleet of Blood Bike Motorcycles for the last two years. In that time they have paid for the petrol of over 5500 urgent, “Out-of-hours,” Blood Bike motorcycle journeys.

“Having our fuel sponsored for the first time since our formation in 2008 has been instrumental in ensuring our vital work of supporting Hospitals and Hospices in the region could continue post-pandemic. Terberg DTS UK have also supplied and sponsored one of our motorcycles. They have been the most generous and supportive local business in the history of our charity and we are incredibly grateful for their support.”

Managing Director of Terberg DTS UK, Alisdair Cooper added:

“We wanted to recognise that our voluntary Blood Bikers in Yorkshire do a fabulous job to benefit our community and Yorkshire Patients. The riders achieve so much moving Blood Samples, medications, donated breast milk and medical supplies every day of the year. It’s been an absolute pleasure to support their voluntary work for this period.”

Pictured are volunteer Blood Bikers  alongside Whiteknights’ West Yorkshire Manager, Matthew Butterfield thanking Alisdair Cooper of Terberg DTS UK.

Next up for Blood Bike Day 2022 we join Whiteknights North Yorkshire riders who are joined by staff from the Hospital Pharmacy departments of York and Scarborough NHS Foundation Trust.

Pictured is Senior Pharmacy Technician, Cat Reed, joined by Senior Pharmacy Assistant, Arran Fletcher outside York Hospital.

Cat said to Whiteknights Advanced Qualified Volunteer Riders, Andy and Tony: “We really appreciate all that you do for us. We only call you when the medications and Controlled Drugs are urgently required somewhere.

sEveryone on the team knows that you’re volunteers and so we treat the Blood Bike service with the respect and value it deserves – you do a brilliant job!”