Biking for Britain

And those with two wheels are supporting front line staff from their motorbike saddle by delivering blood and other critical items for the NHS, the demand for which has soared.

Jon Wood, who works in the maintenance section at Winfrith Site, has stepped up his usual volunteering with SERV Wessex due to the Covid-19 crisis.

SERV Wessex provide a free service to the NHS in Hampshire, Dorset and South Wiltshire. The volunteer motorbike riders provide a service to collect and deliver human milk and transport blood, plasma, platelets, medical samples and medical equipment.

Services have been extended during this current climate to support NHS hospitals and pharmacies to deliver much needed medication for vulnerable patients.

Jon said: “I enjoy my volunteering role, usually performed during the evenings. The new day time deliveries of medical supplies to vulnerable patients is rewarding and it is nice to see that my contribution can make a difference to the lives of many people.”

The new daily service has already had a significant impact, in the last week SERV Wessex have covered 2801 miles and delivered 104 items.

And on the other side of the country colleagues Phil Smith and Phil Sherriff from Sizewell A Site are also using their bikes to deliver vital products to where they are needed.

Engineering Manager, Phil Smith, who is a responder and controller with SERV Suffolk and Cambridge, said: “It’s a great feeling to turn up at a hospital and drop off products or samples, knowing you’ve helped someone in need, but also saved the NHS valuable money because the alternative would have been for the hospital to use taxis or couriers out of hours,” he added.

Project Manager Phil Smith volunteers with Norfolk Blood Bikes. All the charities, which receive no government funding, rely on donations from the public and fund-raising events, as well as charitable grants and awards.