Motorcycle shop raffles off unique BMW for Derbyshire Blood Bikes NHS service
A high-end Midlands motorcycle parts shop has put a very special raffle prize up for grabs this month to raise vital funds for the Derbyshire Blood Bikes charity, which serves hospitals nationwide with rapid transport for lifesaving deliveries.
The brand new BMW R1300GS Adventure has been customised to a truly unique finish by the team at global accessories dealer A Bike Thing, which lies down a quiet country lane on the county’s southern border with Leicestershire, and could be won for as little as £4.99.
Shop owner Steve Abel said: “The Blood Bikers provide an invaluable service to all of us and quietly go about their work, often unnoticed. The impact they have on our NHS and the patients they serve can’t be underestimated and it’s brilliant to be able to help them out.
“If we sell the 20,00 tickets we’re hoping to win then the Blood Bikes will receive around £60,000 in donations from us which will go a huge way to keeping them on the road and doing what they do best.”
Derbyshire residents may or may not be familiar with the passing roar of a Blood Bike along local roads, but the likelihood is that they will know someone who has benefitted from the organisation’s work.
The charity provides a free-of-charge 24-7 urgent medical courier service to the NHS and their clinicians, serving not only Chesterfield Royal and Royal Derby Hospitals but also connecting with colleagues in other regions to carry consignments the length and breadth of the UK.
If a child’s pathology sample needs to get from the Scottish Highlands to analysts at Great Ormond Street Hospital in London, Derbyshire Blood Bikers will be part of a relay chain which gets it there as quickly as possible.
Alongside the transportation of urgent blood products, couriers transport urgent laboratory specimens, medication, medical supplies, equipment and even donated human breast milk.
On a typical month, the volunteers cover around 25,000 miles making around 750 journeys, carrying over carry over 6,000 individual items, coordinated by a rota of controllers who wait by the phone day and night for the next call to arrive.
The Derbyshire team maintains a fleet of 12 bikes and six cars, all of which have been paid for by donations or charitable grants.
The NHS does not fund Derbyshire Blood Bikes, but instead saves around £500,000 each year on equivalent taxi or private courier charges.
The £90,000 annual operating costs are therefore raised by volunteers and supporters, staging an average 95 events a year.
Operations manager Mark Vallis said: “Over recent years, we’ve seen our operating costs significantly increase. Before we even turn a wheel, our fleet insurance is over £17,000 and our fuel bills are typically around £30,000 per year.
“We then have to ensure our fleet is always in pristine condition and to appropriately maintain and service our vehicles is in excess of £25,000. All of this means we are constantly looking for financial support to keep the charity on the road.”
Established in 2018, A Bike Thing has grown to become one of the world most recognised providers of top-quality accessories and electronics, shipping to customers as far away as Australia.
The shop’s expert staff have stripped the prize bike down and rebuilt it with their own unique modifications, including a fresh paint scheme and additional equipment and technology worth more than £8,000.
Steve said: “I’m really proud of the work that our team have done in building this one of a kind machine and I’m hoping the public can get behind our initiative and buy some raffle tickets.
“There is a cash alternative available, so even if you aren’t a biker, this is a great opportunity for someone to take home a lump sum before Christmas.”
The raffle will close on Friday, November 28. For full details of the prize and how to enter, go to abikething.com/product/competition-prize-r1300gsa.