Category: Charity

1. North West Blood Bikes Merseyside

   Posted on 1:18pm Monday 8th Jul 2013

   In April 1981 in Surrey, Service by Emergency Rider Volunteers (SERV) was set up to supply a quick and reliable means of Transporting Emergency Blood and Blood Products to the hospitals and medical facilities at night and weekends. This is the service we now wish to emulate and offer in our area.

   Prior to SERV the only means available to hospitals, doctors and other medical establishments for the transport of emergency blood supplies at night were the following:

   • Taxi • Ambulance • Police • Courier • Transfusion service vehicle

   Each of these options had good and bad points:

   Taxis: The advantage of these was that there were plenty of them. The disadvantage was reliability and cost. The cost to hospitals would range from £30 - £60 or more depending on location. The hospital also had to wait for one to be available and it was not guaranteed how long it would take to deliver.

   Ambulance: Fast and able to respond quickly. The disadvantage was it removed a much-needed emergency vehicle from service during the transport time.

   Police: Fast and able to respond quickly. The disadvantage was it removed a much-needed emergency vehicle from service during the transport time.

   Courier: Limited availability during the night. High cost for service

   Transfusion Service: Own vehicles are used during the day. Availability during the night was limited and hospitals were charged for the service.

   NWBB MERSEYSIDE supplies this service FREE of any charge, thus freeing up much-needed funds for improved patient care and other needed facilities within the hospital and allows the hospitals to strive to make the financial cuts the government are demanding.

   Future

   With the existing services in the Manchester area and in the Lancs & Lakes area, it is now time to expand our Merseyside operations So as to cover the whole of Merseyside and therefore WE NEED YOUR HELP NOW!

   With the ever-increasing need for the health service to save much needed funds, but to ensure good patient care, the demands upon the charity grow each year.

   NWBB MERSEYSIDE Aims:-

   • To supply a safe, quick, and reliable service to local hospitals and doctors for the transport of Emergency Blood and Blood products and Baby milk. • To transport emergency medical equipment, drugs, and maybe donor organs if requested to do so. • To provide our service free of any charge so this will release more money for patient care. This service is provided between the hours of 7pm and 6am weekdays and all weekend, 365 days a year. • To supply 24hr cover over the Christmas and New Year Bank Holidays.

   Help Us

   NWBB MERSEYSIDE is a charitable organisation that delivers blood products to the emergency and accident hospitals across Merseyside at night free of charge when official Health Service transportation services don't operate, as well as working other similar organisations to cover the UK if required.

   If you own or are part of a company, you could DONATE a sum of money for a specific purchase, such as, insulated blood bags or reflective jackets and NWBB MERSEYSIDE would have your company's name printed on them. Or you could always provide Corporate Sponsorship, which would ensure that NWBB MERSEYSIDE would have a regular amount each year.

   Maybe you belong to a Local Club or Group who are looking for a charity to help. Then please consider this one. All donations are welcome and you never know who might need the service. As explained, NWBB MERSEYSIDE is being asked to expand but to do so it needs the financial support to maintain it. Even small amounts all help to keep this service running, from just a few pounds to a few thousand it all helps and you can feel that even your little bit has helped towards saving a life. But not only does NWBB MERSEYSIDE need the financial support, but also the support of the medical establishments in the areas already covered, to use the service to its full potential. For without the calls the charity will fold in these areas through lack of use.

   If you wish to become a volunteer yourself and would like to know more then please email us using [email protected] or any questions please ring Norman on 07794 030182 or if you get the answerphone please leave your message, your name and your phone number so we can ring you back.

   www.nwbb-mers.org

2. Guy Martin’s Big Brew 2013 – A Great Success

   Posted on 7:16am Monday 8th Jul 2013

   Road racing legend and television star, Guy Martin, once again encouraged motorcycle riders and tea drinkers around the country to back the charity Spinal Research over the May Bank Holiday.

   Overall the Big Brew 2013 raised a fantastic £12,500 including a contribution of £2,500 from the sale of Guy Martin’s 2013 calendars. This is double last year’s total and there is still money coming in for life changing research funded by Spinal Research. Supporters all over the country brewed kettles, made tea, baked cakes, held fundraising events and generally had a great time.

   Happy Days Leisure raised the most money making £2000 and special thanks also to Wessons Café who also raised a whopping £700 – the two most successful fundraisers. Thanks to their stirling Big Brew efforts, they will get to meet Guy later this year, along with Stuart Tansley, whose name was drawn from all those that joined in and had a cuppa at their local Big Brew event organised by the Arlesey Motorcycle Club.

   Guy’s sideburns competition saw ‘sidies’ created in every way imaginable and even those who couldn’t grow them joined in on the action using glitter tattoo sideburns, amongst other things! Rosewood Farms also got in on the act and donated 10% from the sale of packs of their mutton chops to support the Big Brew. Top marks for creativity! Check out all the fabulous mutton chops entries here www.guymartinbigbrew.org

   Of course King of the mutton chops himself, Guy Martin, had great fun choosing the lucky winner, who is John Mallett and wins a fantastic Focused Events track day.

   Of the many Big Brew events held around the country, special thanks must go to the ‘growers’ at The Parks and Greenspaces Team in Merseyside, who cultivated some spectacular sideburns and raised even more money by selling cream teas too. Also, Fulton Vehicle Specialists on the Isle of Man, held their own special TT trivia quiz, with all proceeds going to the Big Brew and Spinal Research.

   The Big Brew fun day at City School of Motorcycling had something for everyone including a climbing wall, mini motos, skilled balance riding competition, stunt rider display, raffle, barbecue, teas and delicious cakes donated by Greggs.  The Big Brew action continued in Scotland as Hein Gericke Edinburgh supported the day.

   Special motorcycle ride outs that took place to celebrate the Big Brew included a ride out along the Cornish TT and the Hastings Bike 1066 Spring Opener where Cooper Tunbridge Wells held a Big Brew event on their stand.

   It’s an exciting time for Spinal Research as they are working towards clinical trials that will transform the lives of people living with paralysis, improving sensation, movement and their quality of life. The charity has a dedicated campaign specifically for motorcyclists called Ride Out and The Big Brew is one of the key events in their biking calendar.

   It’s not too late to make a donation, or if you want to discuss a fundraising idea then Spinal Research would love to hear from you.  Visit www.spinal-research.org or call Isabel on 01483 898786.

   “I’m putting my support and tea drinking enthusiasm behind The Big Brew, taking part and fundraising can make all the difference to people living with paralysis.  I hope you enjoyed the 2013 Big Brew and hope even more of you will join us in 2014.”

   Guy Martin, Ride Out for Spinal Research Ambassador

3. Follow our Trophys on the Thankful Villages Run!

   Posted on 1:15pm Monday 1st Jul 2013

   The Thankful Villages Run is a nine-day charity ride-out to all 51 villages in the UK who had all their soldiers return home alive at the end of the Great War in 1918 and we want you to take part!

   The run, which takes place between 27th July and 4th August 2013, is the brainchild of motorcyclists Dougie Bancroft and Medwyn Parry and appropriately aims to raise £51,000 for the Royal British Legion.

   Triumph, who supplied 30,000 motorcycles to the allied forces during WW1, have loaned two, bespoke liveried Trophys to the duo, to enable them to undertake this historic tour.

   The bikes have now been collected, the route planned, the GPS, tracker and comms fitted, now all that’s left to do is invite you to join the Thankful Villages Run.

   Pick as much or little of the route as you like and follow the two Triumph Trophys between the Thankful Villages. Riders who join the ride are asked to donate a minimum £5 towards the Royal British Legion and can do this by texting ‘THVR51 £5’ to 70070, via the website or in cash on the day.

   Further details, including the complete village-by-village schedule, are available on the Thankful Village Run website.

   Schedule   Saturday 27 July Ceredigion – Gloucestershire Sunday 28 July Gloucestershire – Somerset Monday 29 July Somerset – Sussex Tuesday 30 July Kent – Northamptonshire Wednesday 31 July Essex – Leicestershire Thursday 1 August Nottinghamshire – Lincolnshire Friday 2 August Lincolnshire – Yorkshire Saturday 3 August Yorkshire – Lancashire Sunday 4 August Lancashire - Ceredigion

   www.thankfulvillagesrun.com

4. Bikers invited to Honour Ride for Heroes

   Posted on 8:59am Monday 1st Jul 2013

   Bradford biker Chris Eden has issued an invite to all Yorkshire motorcyclists to join the 2013 Ride of Honour a mass motorcycle ride in aid of military charities.

   The 55-mile Sunday ride out will take place on September 22nd, leaving Squires Café at Sherburn-in-Elmet at 11am to arrive in Catterick Garrison in time for lunch.

   There, they are being hosted by Help for Heroes northern Rehabilitation Centre, Phoenix House, which the riders will have the opportunity to look around before setting off home.

   It’s the third year in succession that Chris, an HGV technician, has organised the fundraising event. To date, it has raised £13,500, which has been shared out between Help for Heroes, the Black Rat Fund and SOS,this years ride is sponsored by Bike Tyres Leeds and Scorpion Exhausts UK.

   “I feel very strongly about what our servicemen and women do and this is my way of helping and supporting them,” said the 40-year-old.

   Money is raised through the £15 participation fee, in return for which the bikers receive a commemorative T-shirt. Pillion riders are free.

   Last year, the Ride of Honour comprised 750 bikes and trikes from all over Yorkshire, Humberside, Lancashire and the North East and Chris is hoping for the same number – if not more – this year.

   Phoenix House Manager, Mo Usman, said he was delighted by the show of support from the biking fraternity.

   “Their monetary donation is, of course, very welcome and will be invested well in our work to provide direct, practical assistance by funding projects and individual support that make a real difference throughout the life of wounded servicemen and women, veterans and their families,” said Mo.

   “But we are aware that many bikers are ex servicemen themselves and, equally important to us, is the role those who visit Phoenix House can play in spreading the word about what we do so that no one who needs help slips through the net. We are here to assist veterans, however long ago they were discharged.”

   Anyone interested in joining The Ride of Honour to Catterick needs to register in advance at www.rideofhonour.com. All those who register will go into a prize draw to win a pair of Michelin tyres worth up to £240.

5. A Big Thank You From The NABD

   Posted on 9:14am Thursday 27th Jun 2013

   In December 2011 I had the painful duty of writing a press release announcing the suspension of the NABD Adaption Grant system.

   In essence demand had outstripped resources and in the first seven months of the 2011-2012 financial-year we had already awarded more than £74,000 in grants, which was more than the previous record for any full financial-year.

   I am now very pleased to announce that the NABD grants system is now up-and-running once again, thanks to an upsurge in support from clubs, individuals and companies, following the publication of that press release.

   At the June meeting of the NABD trustees grants were awarded to help 14 disabled riders to adapt bikes and/or trikes totalling just over £10,000.

   We have also now restructured the grants system so that it should never again have to be suspended.

   There is still something of a backlog in applications but these will be dealt with in the order they were received and it is our hope that, with the continued support of bikers, we should have cleared that backlog by September.

   I would like once again to assure all supporters that 100% of every donation is used solely to fund adaption grants. Not one penny is taken for running costs or wages. This is a fact that is easily checked because as a Registered Charity our accounts are made publicly available every year via the Charities Commission and they show that in the over the last decade we have awarded almost £35,500 more in grants than we have received in donations (the difference being funded by our own direct fund raising events etc.)

   The NABD has helped more than 10,000 disabled bikers in its 21 years of existence and it is only with the continued support of bikers that we will be able to continue this work.

   How can you help?

   If your club is having a party, why not make it a fund-raiser for the NABD?  Why not ask your local bikers pub to run a raffle or a party to raise funds for the NABD?  Or you could simply become a member of the NABD for £20 (you don't have to be disabled to join and support our aims).  You can also buy “NABD supporter” patches and other NABD merchandise via the shop on www.nabd.org.uk

   We also have Autumn Nabd’ness rally (Oxfordshire, September 7th – 9th) tickets for sale via www.nabd.org.uk or by calling 0844 415 4849.

   The NABD is the biker’s charity and bikers are the only people who make it all work.

   Donations can be sent to: NABD, Unit 20, The Bridgewater Centre, Robson Avenue, Urmston, Manchester, M41 7TE.  Or you can donate on line www.nabd.org.uk or by phone 0844 415 4849

   The NABD is a biker's charity run by bikers for bikers.

   Rick Hulse

   NABD Chairman