Meet the Bloodbikes volunteer riders helping transport urgent medical supplies, blood across Victoria
A group of volunteer motorcyclists is providing lifesaving support by transporting urgent blood and medical supplies statewide.
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A group of volunteer motorcyclists is providing lifesaving support by transporting urgent blood and medical supplies throughout Victoria, all for free.
The riders from Bloodbikes step up when hospitals, clinics and labs need a courier service of last resort.
The service launched in Victoria in 2020 and now helps out 14 health care providers including the Austin Hospital, Peter Mac, the Epworth and the Lions Eye Donation Service.
Bloodbikes founder Peter Davis said each rider transported blood or medical supplies safely and reliably to where required, and freed up money for health care.
Heather Machin, head of the Lions Eye Donation Service, said Bloodbikes deliver cornea eye tissue to the operating theatre for the recipient’s surgery.
“They have been instrumental in delivering the gift of sight to people across Victoria and even
around Australia and we are truly grateful,’’ Dr Machin said.
“Each rider we interact with has been amazing, and they are each a pivotal part in helping donors achieve their goal of donation and helping transform the vision of the recipients.
Dr Machin said Bloodbikes complete about six eye tissue deliveries a week.
And for riders like Melinda Hindson and Chris Renwick, it’s an opportunity to get out on the road on their BMW machines and do some good at the same time.
Mr Davis said the group’s challenge was to get more healthcare providers to know what they do.
“Simply, it’s a last-resort alternative to transporting what needs to be moved,’’ he said.
And he said the service did not interfere with other commercial arrangements.
“When all other options are exhausted, we are available.”
Last year, the state group’s 62 qualified volunteers completed 378 jobs and rode a total of 31,312km.
Victorian Motorcycle Council spokesman John Eacott, himself a Bloodbiker, said riders were happy to use their own bikes for a good cause.
“It’s a wonderful service. And this is yet another example where motorcycles are the solution and not the problem,’’ Mr Eacott said.
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