This evening was the Blood Bikes Christmas Party!!! We had decided (by popular vote) that we would move the monthly meeting to a Saturday this month and turn it into a Christmas Party. So at 7:30pm all the good boys and girls of the NE Blood Bikes Wales gathered up to celebrate the season. Christmas Jumpers were optional, and in attendance.

So we had a quick update on the last months actions, including how we had been given a new bike by the family of someone who had passed away. Then we were informed that the High Sheriff of Clwyd who has been a fantastic supporter of the Charity for several years now (I think we are on the third or fourth bike she has gotten us) had put some money behind the bar to pay for our drinks.

We then spent a while eating and drinking and making merry to celebrate another busy year with the charity. Blood Bikes Wales Christmas baubles were presented to the members, some 10 year volunteer badges were handed out (I believe I would have been a volunteer for 10 years in 2026). We then had a raffle which raised £180(ish) I forget the exact amount, I did mention the free beer didn’t I?

I managed to win two raffle prizes, and Nev, Hugh and John won none, which made my day because Facebook had reminded me that last year ago the four of us had visited a Lodge to give a talk for Blood Bikes and those three had all won two raffle prizes, and I had won none.

Karma gets there eventually.

Blood Bikes Wales

Blood Bikes Wales is a charity that transports blood, plasma, platelets, samples, vaccines, donor breast-milk & any other urgently required medical items to hospitals at night, weekends and bank holidays. This service is provided completely free of charge, allowing the NHS to divert funds where they are needed most.

Our riders are a hardy bunch that operate in all but the very worst weather.

To recover from the stress of yesterdays Provincial Convocation, I decided to have an easy day today. So I went along to the Ruabon Frost Fayre to see Santa with the Blood Bike Wales guys. 

And as the song goes “The weather outside is frightful” and it was, since it was raining. But the Fayre was really busy with loads of people, stalls, and fundraising events.

Chatting to Santa he was shocked to hear we deliver 365 days a year, he said the reindeers would strike if he tried to do more than once a year.

To finish off the day a few of us Blood Bikers decided to get dry by going to sit by a fire in a real-ale pub and having a few drinks (off duty I should point out)

Sam’s Cafe have been hosting an annual event in aid of Blood Bikes for 4 years now, with a variety of fundraising events like a ride out, raffle, cakes, selling donated items, etc.

This year they raised an amazing £760 (𝘈𝘯𝘥 𝘪𝘧 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘤𝘰𝘯𝘴𝘪𝘥𝘦𝘳 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘸𝘦𝘢𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘳 𝘸𝘦 𝘩𝘢𝘷𝘦 𝘩𝘢𝘥 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘴𝘶𝘮𝘮𝘦𝘳, 𝘪𝘴 𝘢𝘯 𝘶𝘯𝘣𝘦𝘭𝘪𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘢𝘣𝘭𝘦 𝘢𝘮𝘰𝘶𝘯𝘵).

The crew at Sam’s Cafe have been supporting Blood Bikes Wales for many years now, so if you are passing by pop in and have a coffee, a bacon sandwich and say thanks to them for their continued support.

Today is National Blood Bike Awareness Day,

So lets us take a moment to say “thank you” to the 1000s of volunteers who give up their free time to help support this wonderful and important service.

There are multiple Blood Bikes groups across the UK. they are all charities that transports blood, plasma, platelets, samples, vaccines, donor breast-milk & any other urgently required medical items to hospitals at night, weekends and bank holidays. This service is provided completely free of charge, allowing the NHS to divert funds where they are needed most.

Their riders are a hardy bunch that operate in all but the very worst weather.

Today, Welsh Nev, Hugh and myself braved the 32ºC heat and went along to the Scouts “Camp Cymru” event.

900 Scouts of all ages, accompanied by Scout Leaders, Helpers, and Parents descended on “Park in the Past” Hope for a weekend camp. And Blood Bikes Wales were asked to come along and have a spot.

The camp had been split into multiple Zones, with a dozen or so activities in each one.

The scouts were split into multiple groups and circulated around the zones. Each of them had a camp passport, and had to get it signed by every attraction, group they visited. It was a good thing we had a load of Blood Bikes Pens with us because we spent most the morning signing passports, explaining what we do, and letting people sit on the bikes.

At lunch time the Scouts running the stall next to us explained that lunch had been provided for us, and it was just a ten minute walk to the camp where burgers were being cooked.

twenty minutes into the one mile walk up and down hills we started to really feel the 32ºC sun blasting away.

I will say it was worth it, because the burgers were very enjoyable, and the bottle of water provided really hit the spot. The only downside was the one mile walk back to the stall.

The afternoons session was a lot calmer, since the event organisers had told the Scouts they did not have to go about if they did not want too, due to the oppressive heat. Many decided to stay in camp, so there were fewer people all afternoon. So we got a chance to relax and sit out of the sun.

Blood Bikes Wales

Blood Bikes Wales is a charity that transports blood, plasma, platelets, samples, vaccines, donor breast-milk & any other urgently required medical items to hospitals at night, weekends and bank holidays. This service is provided completely free of charge, allowing the NHS to divert funds where they are needed most.

Our riders are a hardy bunch that operate in all but the very worst weather.

Suns out, Bikes out!

Today was a glorious sunny and warm day, some would even call it a heat wave since that is what a lot of media types are saying. So what better to do than go along to the Garden Village Fete, with a load of Blood Bikes and enjoy the weather.

It was a glorious event, we even had queues forming to sit on the bikes, one mother informed me that she had been trying to get her young son to go for a donkey ride for the last fifteen minutes, but he just kept pointing at the bikes and saying he wanted to go there. Who can blame him, big bright motorbikes beat donkeys any day of the week.

It was a good day to stand in the sun, eat ice-creams, and talk to the public about what we do and why. We even met some young kids that while they were having their photos taken on the bikes, their mothers let us know that we had been delivering breast milk to them after the were born prematurely. It is always heartwarming to meet people we have helped, especially when we see how well they are doing now.

I think I may have gotten a bit of sunburn on my arms, but it was well worth it.

Blood Bikes Wales

Blood Bikes Wales is a charity that transports blood, plasma, platelets, samples, vaccines, donor breast-milk & any other urgently required medical items to hospitals at night, weekends and bank holidays. This service is provided completely free of charge, allowing the NHS to divert funds where they are needed most.

Our riders are a hardy bunch that operate in all but the very worst weather.

I first heard about Blood Bikes Wales during the organisation of the 2016 charity 3-Day Motorcycle Tour of wales. We had decided to run that years tour to raise money for Blood Bikes Wales after they had reached out to us.

After hearing about all the good they do, and how much money they save the NHS each year, money which can then be used on other more important things. I decided I wanted to help out more, than just helping organising the tour.

Therefore way back In 2016/17 (I forget which, since the times before the great Covid Lockdown seem to be all hazy now, what was life like back then?) I joined as a member of the Wrexham group of Blood Bikes Wales.

I have never regretted volunteering my time to Blood Bikes Wales. I would strongly suggest that everyone find a cause or organisation they feel strongly about, and during this National Volunteer Week, maybe reach out to them and offer to help. You will not regret it.

At some point of our lives, we or our family will probably need the assistance of the NHS, so it makes sense to do what you can to help them out, so that when you need them they are as prepared as possible.

Today, Welsh Nev and myself popped along with Hugh (on Buddi 2) and Keith (on Chloe Lou 2) to the Fairfield Masonic Hall.

We were there to meet up with Group 6 chairman Raymond Houlbrook, and big supporter of Blood Bikes Wales Gary Evans (He ran the London Marathon to raise money for us a few years ago) to receive a cheque for £407.

Last year Group 6 held a popular Bavarian Night to raise money for charity (and to have a good time), this was the second Bavarian Night they had held where they gave money to Blood Bikes Wales.

We really appreciate all the support we get from Group 6.

Blood Bikes Wales

Blood Bikes Wales is a charity that transports blood, plasma, platelets, samples, vaccines, donor breast-milk & any other urgently required medical items to hospitals at night, weekends and bank holidays. This service is provided completely free of charge, allowing the NHS to divert funds where they are needed most.

Our riders are a hardy bunch that operate in all but the very worst weather.