Tullamore Tribune (Bikers Ride Out For Prems)

Blood Bike Leinster supports the event Bikers Ride Out For Prems in helping them to raise money for lifesaving equipment for hospitals with ICUs in them for premature babies. All year this group fundraise to purchase this equipment and one of these events took place on Saturday the 26th July 2014 one of these events took place. Tullamore Ride Out For Prems was a fantastic success and all proceeds will go to buy equipment.

This day was a great success and keep your eye out for future events for a great cause.
To follow "Bikers ride out for prems" progress and events why not follow the Facebook page.

Photos courtesy of Tullamore Tribune and Bikers Ride Out for Prems

Blood Bike Leinster's Fergus Lennon and Nigel Barlow at the event

Blood Bike Leinster's Fergus Lennon and Nigel Barlow along with our bikes Aoibheann and Leah at the event.

9th Lough Takaway donate to Blood Bike Leinster

Many thanks to the 9th Lough Takeaway, Clondalkin Village for their fantastic donation to Blood Bike Leinster. Its donations like this that enable us to run our free service to the hospitals.

Ricki Capocci presenting a cheque for €250 to Gordon Kiely from Blood Bike Leinster

Leinster Leader (Web edition) 2nd July 2014

A group of bikers have found a way to use their passion for good use with the establishment of Blood Bike Leinster, a service they offer free to medical world.

The concept of Blood Bike Leinster is very simple. The bikers, who have centres in Newbridge, Portlaoise and Navan, use their motorbikes to transport vitally needed supplies to and from clinics to hospitals.

The items can be anything from blood to scans, to samples for testing and even breast milk to maternity hospitals.

By virtue of being on powerful yet nimble motorbikes, the group can deliver the items quicker than conventional vehciles.

“While we don’t break the speed limts or break red lights, we have found that the motorists tend to be very accomodating, moving over to allow us to pass through,” Fergus Lennon who established the service told theLeinster Leader.

As well as being quicker, they’re also cheaper - in fact they’re free.

The group is a registered charity and bears the cost of buying the motorbikes which are ex-metropolitan police BMW’s bikes at a cost of approximately €8,000 each, insuring them, for €800 a pop per annum and fueling them - although that bit is reasonably inexpensive at €20 a week.

Servicing is donated to the group by a kind-hearted mechanic.

Fergus estimates that the cost saving to the HSE of about €12,000 since they were established, carrying out 170 runs since they were established in November of last year.

“We had to do an urgent run of breast milk from Galway to Crumlin which would have cost the hospital €600 to do.”

Blood bikes are not a new idea. They started in the UK in the 1960s and have spread to Ireland in the recent years.

“I’m a keen biker myself,” Fergus explained, “and like all bikers, I like getting out on my bike.”

The charity also work with Barretstown Camp near Ballymore Eustace and the Jockey Hospital on the Curragh, bringing samples back and forth to various hospitals regularly.

And in a poignant move, Fergus explained that one of the bikes has been named ‘Princess Leah’ after the young Robertstown girl who lost her brave battle with cancer earlier this year.

Leah’s mother, Sabrina Taaffe has donated funds to the group. The Naas Lions Club has also supported Blood Bike Leinster which hopes to expand its operations to more areas in the Leinster region.

If readers are interested in supporting them, see bloodbikeleinster.ie for details on fundraisers, or how to donate.

This article originally appeared in the web edition of Leinster Leader 2nd July 2014

http://m.leinsterleader.ie/news/local-news/blood-bike-leinster-provide-a-vital-service-1-6155312

A brief history of Blood Bikes

Following on from the success of Blood Bikes in the UK the service has moved to Ireland. Prior to 2012 there were no Blood Bike Groups in Ireland but today there are 7 groups operating in Ireland covering a vast area of the country. Blood Bike Leinster are one of these groups.

Blood Bike Leinster are a charity set up and equipped to transport blood, samples and urgent tests for hospitals in the mid Leinster area.
We use motorcycles to transport these items due to their manoeuvrability, versatility and fuel economy. Blood Bike Leinster’s highly visible vehicles are equipped to the highest standards and are excellent at manoeuvring through traffic. Blood Bike Leinster is an entirely volunteer run organisation. 100% of the money donated goes directly into the running costs of the service and as its administration is staffed by volunteers we spend no money on administration, wages or expenses. None of the volunteers receive any expenses or any monetary reward for their time.

We set this charity up to save our health service money so that more resources can be diverted into patient care as currently a substantial amount of money is being spent on transporting these items. It is our aim to cut the expenditure in this area and in the process try to increase the resources available to our local hospitals and in turn the local community.

Blood Bike Leinster are very committed to our service and when others are settling down on a rainy night, we are heading out onto the roads of Leinster to provide our service. Obviously safety is our primary concern so when the weather is not suitable such as high winds or icy roads we do use four wheeled vehicles to ensure the safety of our volunteers and our cargo. Our motorcycles are fitted to the highest emergency service standards with emergency blue lights, reflective decals and of course a professional rider. All of our riders are regularly assessed on their skills and are constantly training and up skilling all at their own expense. 

Blood Bike Leinster are also trained and qualified in GDP (Good distribution practice) which guarantees traceability and quality assurance of all our cargo, this was completed in conjunction with PLS Pharma.
We receive no government grants and are totally dependent on the goodwill of the public on our collection days. We always welcome any kind of donation or sponsorship and donations can be made via our website (PayPal) through the post, at one of our collection days or through our text donation service. Blood Bike Leinster are full members of Nationwide association of Blood Bikes in the UK which have 50 years of experience and are of great assistance due to their wealth of knowledge.

In Ireland nobody comes together more than bikers to raise money for charity. Every week there are Motorcycle clubs having sponsored runs for very worthy causes. Motorcyclists really come together when it comes to being active in society and so many of work for the same goals and Blood Bike Leinster is another part of that.
We enjoy our work immensely and whether its meeting people at our flag days taking photos and chatting with people, delivering milk into a maternity ward or delivering samples for Barretstown we all find it very rewarding and we are extremely proud of what we do.

You can donate to our service also by texting to our text donate service below.

Kells Road Races 2014 (Crossakiel circut)

A small selection of photos from Kells road races 2014, many thanks to all who donated to our service.

Jana

Road racing Ireland

Carol Nash Girls

Our very own Miss Meath 2014, Aoife McGrane

Road racing Ireland Girls

Road Racing Ireland Girls

Road Racing Ireland Girls and our very own Ger

Road Racing Ireland

The Pride of Leinster Aoibheann and Leah

Road Racing Ireland Girls

Our very own Miss Meath 2014, Aoife McGrane

Miss Meath, Aoife McGrane and Blood Bike Leinster

Blood Bike Leinster would like to officially welcome on board our new sponsor Aofie McGrane who is currently Miss Meath and Miss Ireland hopeful.
We are delighted that Aoife has chosen us as her charity and we look forward to working closely with her.

Image Paul Dillon Photography

Blood Bike Leinster Official Launch

Blood Bike Leinster officially launched on Sunday 8th June 2014 in Dunboyne Castle Hotel.

During our launch we named two of our motorcycles after two beautiful girls who unfortunately lost their battle with childhood cancer. We have became great friends with Aoibheann's Pink Tie who are a fantastic charity who offer practical support to children and their families who are effected by childhood cancer. 

We at Blood Bike Leinster are very lucky to have these two wonderful angels watching over our riders and bikes and are extremely proud that they bare the girls names.

Image, Paul Dillon Photography
On Motorcycles Leah and Aoibheann: Miss Kildare Sarah Kavanagh and Miss Meath Aofie McGrane,
Back Row: John Lally, Gordon Kiely, Aprile Lennon, John Curran, Petr Schitek.
Front Row: Ger Kinsella, Keith Lambe, Fergus Lennon, Noel McLoughlin.

Don't forget you can donate €2 to Blood Bike Leinster simply by texting BLOODBIKE to 50300.

100% of your €2 goes to the Blood Bike Leinster across most networks. Some providers apply Vat where a minimum of €1.63 cent will go to Blood Bike Leinster. Service provided by LikeCharity (01-4433890).