Jon Ralphs of Bridstow, one of the latest volunteers to qualify as a member of the Severn Freewheelers, was called into service for the first time on Saturday, January 6th.

A qualified advanced motorcyclist, Jon was asked to make an urgent delivery from Hereford County Hospital to Birmingham Children’s Hospital.

Severn Freewheelers is a group of advanced motorcyclists providing a free out-of-hours courier service for hospitals across four counties. Each county has its own dedicated Blood Bike and, as the Ross Gazette reported in November, local riders are now able to use the Blood Bike based at Hereford Fire Station. The contribution that Severn Freewheelers makes to Herefordshire has already been recognised by the Mayor of Hereford who chose it as one her charities. 

Despite the near to freezing temperatures on that Saturday evening and, although he was not officially on duty, Jon agreed to help and made the delivery.

He told the Ross Gazette: “Although this was my first experience riding the Blood Bike the journey went well and I was able to make the delivery to the Children’s Hospital in Birmingham as requested.”

Jon has since made a further journey in the rain from Hereford to Llandrindod Wells and is looking forward to continuing to ride for the charity.

Jon first became aware of the Severn Freewheelers and the Blood Bike service when he visited Prescott Bike Festival a few years ago. This is one of the main fund raising events each year for the Severn Freewheelers who cover Gloucestershire, Worcestershire, North Wiltshire and Herefordshire taking blood, pathology samples, patient scans and x-rays, human milk – in fact any medical essentials between hospitals in the area. Jon said they can be asked to carry anything which can fit on a bike.

Their hours are from 7pm in the evening to 7am the following day, all day at weekends and public holidays. All riders are volunteers and hold a current advanced riding qualification (RoSPA or IAM) with a yearly check-ride. All receive extra training in emergency response riding and in the transport of the items they carry.

Each ‘shift’ consists of four people, a dispatcher and three riders. The dispatcher fields calls from the hospitals and plans the route for the evening based on the calls. Emergency calls are obviously dealt with first and for these the riders use blue lights. At weekends the number of riders increases to four to cope with extra demand.

Jon said the charity is providing a really valuable service which makes no charge to the NHS. He said: “If taxis or specialist couriers had to be used this would obviously cost the NHS a lot of money.”

If you feel that you would like to volunteer to either ride, dispatch or help with fundraising then visit severnfreewheelers.org.uk for more details.

Jon added: “I hope that people will continue to support this local charity and value the immediate benefit that it can bring to local residents.”