The FIM British Speedway Grand Prix stars won’t be the only legends on two wheels in Cardiff on Saturday (Aug 13th) as Blood Bikes Wales ride in as charity partner.
Playing a vital role in relieving the pressure on our massively over-stretched National Health Service, Blood Bikes Wales volunteers provide a completely free courier service for the NHS, relying solely on volunteers and public donations.
The team works around the clock assisting to deliver among other things vital blood supplies and samples, plasma, donor breast milk for specialist baby units and essential medication between the various hospitals.
It is thanks to the Blood Bikes team that Wales now has its own milk bank for premature babies, based at Singleton Hospital. The money that the charity helped to save the NHS by transporting milk from Birmingham for free allowed funds to be allocated to a much-needed Welsh facility.
The charity estimates that with every pound donated to Blood Bikes Wales, the NHS saves £5, which can be invested into frontline care.
In 2021, the charity was presented with the Queen’s Award for Voluntary Services and, having been hit hard by the pressures of the pandemic, Vice Chair Tyron Stevenson said:
“The pandemic was hard on all charities but it was a double whammy for us as we were busier than ever, working crazy hours transporting Covid samples and tests to care homes and smaller surgeries for example, all on top of what we would normally be doing and with very limited opportunities for our usual fundraising activities.
“With petrol prices having soared aswell, we’ve really had to dig deep into our reserves.
“We are an enthusiastic group of people based all over Wales and keen to make a difference. Most of us are riders but we rely as much on our non-rider volunteers and for support and fundraising and we aim to use our skills, time and enthusiasm to help the health service in Wales.
“We’re continually seeking ways to improve the charity and are absolutely delighted to have the support of the FIM British Speedway GP this year. The British round is a huge event in the Welsh sporting calendar and will help us raise much needed awareness.
“I’m also personally looking forward to meeting Speedway champion Tai Woffinden; we may spell our names differently but as myself and also my son are named Ty, I think we’ll get on well!”
Speaking for British Speedway GP, Paul Bellamy added:
“We were so impressed when we heard of the great work being undertaken by the team at Blood Bikes Wales that we wanted to lend our support and get them involved in our event.
“Knowing that they are all volunteers and devote so much time to this work makes it even more important that awareness is increased so that more volunteers come forward and vital funds can be raised. We’re really pleased that we can provide a platform for that this year.”
Tickets for this year’s Speedway Grandprix in Cardiff are available via the See Tickets website to close at midday on Thursday.
Tickets will then only be available to purchase at the stadium from the RFU shop located on Westgate Street between gates 3 & 4 on Friday (13:00 – 17:30) & Saturday (9:30 – 17:30).
