Edith Cavell Blood Bike

A group of volunteer bikers who carry out a vital hospital service have been handed a special new motorbike they have named Edith Cavell, thanks to a generous £7,000 donation.

Friends of the Norfolk and Norwich University Hospital have raised the money so that SERV Norfolk Blood Bikes can add to their fleet which transports blood products and breast milk during evenings, weekends and bank holidays.

The Norfolk group have 55 volunteer bikers of all ages who transport blood, platelets, plasma, donated breast milk and urgent samples often to or from the county to Addenbrookes Hospital site. They work with the three main hospitals in Norfolk using a fleet of 8 bikes and two cars.

The new bike, named Edith Cavell, is a Triumph Trophy SE explained SERV Norfolk fleet manager David Eyers who said they were able to buy it at a special price and have it modified with blue lights and signs added as well as a special rack on the back.

“Make no mistake having this bike in our fleet will save lives. The donation from the Friends is simply staggering and very generous.  The new bike will help us to continue to provide a reliable and vital support for our local health care services and will be used mainly for the NNUH and the service we provide to Norfolk’s largest hospital, said David.

The volunteer bikers pay for their fuel, maintenance and insurance and fundraise to help pay the £2,000 a month cost of keeping the bikes and cars on the road.

Richard Drew, Chair of Friends of NNUH said: “We are delighted to support this vital service being provided by the Blood Bikers for NNUH.  They provide a secure level of service so blood and other samples can be delivered between our hospitals and onward to Cambridge if required, in a timely fashion at short notice regardless of the unsociable hours – and it’s all voluntary. All of which is a huge benefit to the patients at NNUH. We all hope that we never have to use the services that Blood Bikes provide and we hope that the Edith Cavell Bike will help the army of volunteers continue their fantastic work in support of local hospitals and patients across Norfolk.”