Blood bikes charity gears up for fundraiser

A charity transporting emergency blood supplies to hospitals around the clock is calling for funding help as it looks to maintain its fleet of vehicles.

The Teesside-based Bloodrun Emergency Voluntary Service (EVS) primarily acts as a courier between hospitals at Hartlepool, Stockton and Middlesbrough, but often goes as far as Manchester and Leeds.

It has annual running costs in the region of £30,000 and several of its bikes and cars are about 10 years old.

Driver Ryan Hubbard, one of about 70 volunteers, said it was a daily struggle to find money to cover the vehicles' upkeep, as well as petrol costs.

He told BBC Radio Tees many people did not realise the charity was completely reliant on donations from the public and businesses.

"We find even when we're going into the hospitals some of the people who work on the wards think we're a company, but we're volunteers," he said.

"It's because we drive around in vehicles and bikes that look like emergency vehicles. People just assume [we're part of the NHS]. I don't think they're fully aware of what we do.

"We go to community events to raise awareness and we do quite a lot of talks with local groups, trying to get out to as many people as we can and raise vital funds while doing that.

"It is [a struggle every day], especially in the winter when there are no big events."

The charity has five motorbikes, a similar number of cars and a van.

It recently acquired a new bike and two hybrid cars and is hoping to continue replacing some of its older vehicles, which have travelled many thousands of miles.

It estimates last year alone its services saved the NHS £79,000 in taxi charges.

As well as launching a raffle through its website and social media page, Bloodrun EVS is appealing for people to "sponsor a shift".

"A night shift for us is around 20 to 30 pounds to cover fuel and a small bit towards insurance," explained Mr Hubbard, who works in banking during the day.

"We do have a day shift where we respond to urgent calls from hospitals. They're a little bit different because you could be driving hundreds of miles on those, but even just a small donation towards that is a big help."

The charity is also gearing up for its annual Santa Run, when volunteers visit hospitals to drop off selection boxes for young patients and members of staff.

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