Can you ride to save a life?

Devon’s medical courier service, Devon Freewheelers, is on the lookout for new riders in all parts of the county.

The charity provides a free out-of-hours service to the NHS delivering blood, tissue samples, breast milk and other medical supplies to hospitals across Devon. Many lives have been saved through swift delivery of critical items.

All riders are volunteers who give their time to help keep the service running. They use the charity’s own liveried motorbikes to ensure deliveries are made as quickly as possible.

Daniel Lavery, Chair of the Devon Freewheelers said: “We help patients in every part of Devon and currently have 45 voluntary riders covering the whole region. Each area could do with additional riders, so that the burden doesn’t just fall on the shoulders of a few.

“Many riders also have full time jobs and the charity is very grateful that they give up their time willingly.”

New volunteers require an advanced riding qualification such as IAM or ROSPA , and will need to have a check ride ‒ all riders undertake this check every six months to make sure their riding is up to standard.

The Devon Freewheelers charity is kept operating purely through public donations. All volunteer riders become involved in fundraising efforts carried out by businesses and supporting organisations like the Lions Club. New riders may find themselves being asked to head up a quiz team or attend a show or fete.

Becoming a volunteer rider involves commitment as the service runs from 5pm to 7am each weekday and for 24 hours on Saturdays, Sundays and during Bank Holidays.

The patients who benefit from deliveries are unlikely ever to be aware of the help they have received from the charity. For volunteer riders, the reward for a rider is to know that they may well have helped to save a life.

Contact via the website bloodbikes.org/volunteer-with-us or call the office 0300 800 0105