On behalf of all the volunteers at Whiteknights Yorkshire Blood Bikes, we convey our congratulations to Her Majesty the Queen on Her Platinum Jubilee of 70 years reign. Whiteknights are attending various events across Yorkshire this Bank Holiday to join in with the celebrations.
A Hand of Friendship national tour of Blood Bikes groups being undertaken by two Blood Bikers over the Jubilee Weekend has arrived in Yorkshire.
Thomas and Mark from newly-formed NABB Group, Highland and Islands Blood Bikes, are circumnavigating the UK stopping along the way to obtain signatures on their Friendship Charter. Having departed Inverness at 4AM they arrived at Pontefract Castle at lunchtime. They were greeted by Whiteknights, Paul Andrews, Ian Dabell and Neil Clarkson.
In return, Paul presented the two travellers with a well deserved bottle of Yorkshire tipple, Theakstons Old Peculiar.
Thomas added: “It’s been really fantastic to meet our fellow Blood Bikers around the country. I can’t believe its never been undertaken before.”
iLadies of the Sheffield branch of Soroptimists International, have made a major donation to Sheffield’s voluntary Blood Bikers.
The visiting President of Soroptimists International, Yorkshire region, Madame President, Lindsay Green presented Whiteknights Yorkshire Blood Bikes Deputy South Yorkshire Manager, Andrew Wragg with a donation of £500 at a recent event at Tapton Hall.
Lindsay commented, “This evening we have learnt in more detail the marvellous voluntary service provided in Sheffield and across Yorkshire by Whiteknights’s Blood Bikers. The urgent transportation service they provide free of charge to the NHS during the night and at weekends is an inspiration and we thoroughly commend the commitment to patient care they demonstrated during the Pandemic.”
A ten year-old boy who is visiting all 20 Premier League football clubs around the country to raise funds for local Blood Bike Charities has arrived in Sheffield.
Caiden Rolph, from Peterborough, received a warm welcome from Sheffield Blood Bikers at the Sheffield United ground earlier today.
Caiden was wearing his specially made Blood Biker vest adorned with the badges of the Blood Bike charities he has met and supported.
Caiden’s mother Claire said, “It’s been wonderful to meet the Whiteknights today and for Caiden to go pitch-side at Bramall Lane.
“Caiden has Autism and is a huge football fan. It’s been a wonderful adventure for him to visit the Premier League clubs and to highlight the voluntary work of Blood Bikes around the country over the last few years.”
Caiden presented Whiteknights, South Yorkshire Manager, Roy Clark with a cheque for £150 which he had raised.
Pictured are Sheffield Blood Bikers from Whiteknights, Chris, Ann, Paul, Roy and Andrew alongside Caiden and Claire Rolph.
More good news for Whiteknights’ Out-of-hours urgent transportation service.
The current President of Hull Kingston Inner Wheel, Ann Johnson (pictured) has announced the selection of Whiteknights Yorkshire Blood Bikes as her chosen charity for 2022.
Ann was joined by the ladies of the Inner Wheel group at a recent fundraising opportunity held at a Waitrose Supermarket.
Whiteknights are extremely grateful to be selected by groups as demand for support in the charity sector is at an all time high.
Whiteknights Yorkshire Blood Bike announce a new campaign to recruit official fundraising volunteers.
Do you believe in the vital voluntary work of Whiteknights motorcyclists? – then we would be delighted to have you on our team.
If you, or someone you know would be willing to spare some time attending events with us or on behalf of us throughout 2022 then please message us through Facebook or email: fundraising@whiteknights.org.uk
We have forthcoming events we very much need volunteer fundraisers to attend. Please share this post and contact us as soon as possible. We would love to hear from you. Fundraising volunteer recruitment is now open to all.
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Today, volunteer Advanced-qualified riders of Whiteknights Yorkshire Blood Bikes were thrilled to present the members of Birstall Library’s Knit and Natter group with their top fundraising award.
The Knit and Natter group have been donating sales of knitted items they have specifically created during the pandemic to sustain Whiteknights’ urgent transportation service, which is free to the NHS.
Riders Kevin Heap and Neil Clarkson presented ‘Whiteknights Champions Awards’ to the members of the group for raising over £2500.
Chairman of the Yorkshire Blood Bike charity, Andrew Foster commented:
“The extent of the commitment, dedication and generosity of the Birstall Library Knit and Natter group has been truly inspiring.
‘The fundraising of this small group has been of vital importance to our work during the pandemic lock downs and we hugely appreciate every penny they have raised to support our work benefitting the care of Hospital and Hospice patients in our region.”
Pictured receiving the awards in front of members of the group are Gill Townsend, Customer Service Officer at Birstall Library and Elaine Jewel of the Knit and Natter Group.
Whiteknights Yorkshire Blood Bikes are thrilled to announce they have received a funding award from Yorkshire Building Society’s Charitable Foundation.
Whiteknights were successfully nominated for the £1750 donation by Tony Bradley, a property engineer for Yorkshire Building Society and a volunteer rider with Whiteknights West Yorkshire. In light of this, The Yorkshire Blood Bikes charity has conveyed upon YBS the status of, “Whiteknights Champions”.
Mr Bradley, who is based at the Society’s head office in Bradford, said: “I’m delighted that Yorkshire Building Society Charitable Foundation, which is funded by our members, has been able to support Whiteknights Yorkshire Blood Bikes once again. The volunteers do amazing work for our community supporting our regional NHS with an urgent transportation service between hospitals, hospices throughout Yorkshire.”
Chairman of Whiteknights Yorkshire Blood Bikes, Andrew Foster commented.
“This funding from Yorkshire Building Society’s Charitable Foundation will help to finance our on-going operational commitments now we are entering the de-escalation phase of the pandemic.
“We have conveyed the status of “Whiteknights Champions” on YBS for their continued support. We really appreciate the recognition of the service we provide to support patient care in Yorkshire.”
Pictured is YBS employee and Whiteknights Rider, Tony Bradley with the Whiteknights Champions certificate awarded to YBS.
Whiteknights Yorkshire Blood Bikes South Yorkshire would like to thank Plumco and Just Trade Windows for becoming an official tyre sponsor for the South Yorkshire Blood Bikes Ivanhoe and Lottie 2.
It’s very much appreciated to receive support from South Yorkshire businesses in this way.
Pictured is South Yorkshire Regional Manager, Roy Clark, with Lewis from Plumco and Frank from Just Trade Windows.
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Volunteer Blood Bikers in Sheffield have announced they are providing a new, free-of-charge, urgent transportation service to Sheffield Children’s Hospital.
Whiteknights Yorkshire Blood Bikes will today take the time-critical, Nasal Brush Biopsy samples from Sheffield to Leicester University for the diagnosis of a rare respiratory condition.
Children with Primary Ciliary Dyskinesia (PCD) have a problem with mucus build-up, which leads to infections and swelling of the airways and the ears. Ordinarily the mucus should be cleared by tiny hairs lining the airways called Cilia – but in a child with PCD this process is limited.
Dr Hemant Kulkami, Respiratory Consultant at Sheffield Children’s NHS Foundation Trust runs the monthly PCD clinic.
“In order to diagnose the condition, a sample of the Cilia are taken from the child’s nose. These samples are challenging to collect, and the procedure can be uncomfortable for the child. The samples are time sensitive and can deteriorate once taken. So its vital the samples are obtained from the patient and delivered to the lab within hours later that day.”
“There are only three centres in England that can process the PCD samples. Once transported to the specialist respiratory centre at Leicester University the sample is then viewed under a microscope.”
South Yorkshire Regional Manager for Whiteknights Yorkshire Blood Bikes, Roy Clark said: “The monthly transportation of PCD biopsy samples is another example of how we have been able to diversify the voluntary service we offer the NHS Foundation Trusts in Sheffield. Like all our routine work, the movement of these samples down to Leicester can be fully tracked in real-time. This new initiative is in addition to the overnight and weekend urgent call-out cover we provide to transport urgent blood samples between hospitals in South Yorkshire.”
Layla Austerberry, Respiratory Physiology Assistant, pictured handing the samples to Roy Clark, commented: “I personally think it’s great to have Whiteknights Yorkshire Blood Bikes providing this transportation service. With their experience in handling biological specimens, we know the samples will be in safe hands.”
Pictured at Sheffield’s Children’s Hospital (left to right)
Whiteknights Manager, Roy Clark, Layla Austerberry, Volunteer Rider, David Barrow, Dr Hemant Kulkami.