Category: Organisations

1. National Blood Bike Awareness Day – Friday 12 August 2016

   Posted on 9:00am Friday 12th Aug 2016

   Friday 12th August 2016 is National Blood Bike Awareness Day.
   

   Blood bikes are the silent emergency service, transporting blood for blood transfusions, injuries and emergency responses for emergency services, the NHS and other medical services. These unsung heroes are all volunteers.

   Blood Bike Awareness Day is organised by the National Association of Blood Bikes (NABB) and aims to promote awareness of the lifesaving work the NABB does in conjunction with the NHS and emergency services.

   Blood Bikers are the 1,500 men and women all over Britain who provide an out-of-hours rapid response courier service as well as transporting hospital deliveries across the country.  The Blood Bikers are all volunteers, and in 2014 they responded to around 39,000 urgent requests from hospitals, saving the NHS hundreds of thousands of pounds.  

   Severn Freewheelers are the regional Blood Bike group operating Gloucestershire, Hereford, Worcester and North Wiltshire. Over 70 volunteers help Severn Freewheelers carry out a much-needed service. Severn Freewheelers run six BMW R1200RTs; all are emergency response equipped and the members handle some 4,000 call outs per annum, covering 150,000 miles. The charity’s principle aim is to alleviate suffering by transporting medical essentials, free of charge, between NHS facilities. This would include Blood, Blood Products, Pathology Samples, Frozen Human milk and other medical essentials.

   Your support is essential for this service to continue and flourish – perhaps you don’t have the time to volunteer for one of the many roles within the organisation; there are other ways to support Blood bikes!  A family day out is a great option either by attending Shelsley Walsh Bike Festival or if you do have a little spare time the organisation is actively seeking volunteer riders, drivers, fundraisers, digital and social media buffs. So you don’t even have to have a motorbike to support them!

   How you Can Support Severn Freewheelers

   Shelsley Walsh Bike Festival will take place once again at the iconic historic Hill Climb course in Worcestershire on Sunday 4 September and is hailed as a ‘Must Do’ day out for all motorcycling enthusiasts. This is a great day out for all the family and is an essential event to raise awareness and donations for Blood Bikes and the local branch of the association Severn Freewheelers.

   The Festival prides itself on its diversity and celebrates engineering excellence; from rare, classic, modern, customised to hand built bikes and those of historic significance. This year the organisers have secured the most diverse motorcycles yet from the World’s Fastest Shopping Trolley powered by a Chinook helicopter engine (holds record speed of 70.4mph/ 113.298kmh), the 'Warhorse' the World’s Fastest Monowheel, a one-wheeled vehicle that the rider sits inside and travels up to 65mph!

   Shelsley Walsh Bike festival is truly a big celebration of man and machine with large displays of historic, modern and race bikes, plus a Paddock Specials Show ‘n’ Tell area and the unique opportunity for members of the public to take part in the spectacle by ‘running the hill’ or participating in a thrilling passenger ride experience.  There’s also a whole raft of entertainment too from biker celebrity appearances, trade stands plus live music from UK hot rocking band, Josie and the Outlaws and guests. There’s stuff for the kids, great food and drink and lots more. All event proceeds of the event go to Severn Freewheelers, the regional Blood Bike group

   Entries for Paddock Specials are both by invitation and by application - so if you own a special, rare or historic bike, we want to hear from you! Please contact us via the website and provide further details.

   Helping Blood Bikes, Helping You

   Event Address: Shelsley Walsh Hill Climb, Shelsley Walsh, Worcestershire, WR6 6RP

   Advance tickets:

   • Advance general admission tickets cost just £12 in advance or £15 on the gate, or for £35 you can enter to ‘Run the Hill’ on your own bike and be part of the spectacle! To book visit: www.shelsleybikefestival.co.uk
   • Children under 16years old, go free.
   • Gates Opens at: 08:30am, Track starts at: 10:00am, Festival closes at: 17:00.
   • Free parking, free motorcycle side stand puck and free helmet park for bikers

   More about NABB and Blood Bike Awareness Day – Fact File

   The National Association of Blood Bikers (NABB) comprises 33 regional charities, 1,500 volunteer Blood Bikers, work with 272 hospitals; they are on call 365 days a year, 7pm until 6am weekdays and 24hrs at the weekends.  In 2014 alone, NABB groups responded to 39,000 urgent requests saving multiple lives. The NABB groups comprises of skilled, dedicated people who make a significant personal sacrifice to help others, which has a positive impact on local communities, saving the NHS hundreds of thousands of pounds in courier costs.

   The Association is a motorcycle based, free delivery service to the NHS; moving vital medical supplies, blood and pathology samples from medical centres and hospitals throughout the UK. NABB member groups are closely involved in the transport of frozen human milk from the donor to the milk processing banks. Run entirely by volunteers, NABB member groups have over 1500 active members with a fleet of 120+ emergency response vehicles. All NABB riders are trained in the movement of medical essentials and operate from individual regional charities but with a common goal – to alleviate suffering and reduce the funding pressures on the NHS. 

2. Pink Floyd’s Nick Mason makes cheque presentation to the Midlands Air Ambulance Charity

   Posted on 10:00am Tuesday 7th Jun 2016

   ...  on behalf of the Henry Surtees Foundation

   Musician and composer Nick Mason, best known as the drummer of Pink Floyd, attended the Midlands Air Ambulance base at Strensham, near Worcester last Friday, to hand over a cheque for £18,275 on behalf of the Henry Surtees Foundation
   
   As a keen supporter of the air ambulance and self-confessed petrol head, boasting a large collection of vintage and classic cars, Mr Mason was happy to support the cause.
   
   The donation of £18,275 presented to Midlands Air Ambulance crews will be used to fund specialist equipment designed specifically for critical care transport, including a Zoll X Series Monitor, defibrillator and aircraft bracketry. The equipment developed for the military and air medical operations, enables the flight crew to continuously deliver the highest quality CPR and resuscitation capabilities, whilst patient data is automatically uploaded and streamed to remote displays in ambulances, hospitals and communication centres as the rescuer cares for the patient at the scene of incident and in transit.
   
   Becky Steele, air operations manager for Midlands Air Ambulance Charity said: “As a pre-hospital emergency service that attends some of the most traumatic incidents in the region, it is vital Midlands Air Ambulance has the right equipment to give patients the best chance of survival and greater recovery outcomes. We are extremely grateful to the Henry Surtees Foundation for the grant for the monitors, which have become one of our greatest assets on board our three air ambulance helicopters and our rapid response vehicles.”
   
   Since 1991, Midlands Air Ambulance has responded to more than 43,000 missions, averaging 2,000 per year.
   
   John Surtees CBE said, “I would like to thank Nick Mason for his enthusiastic support of the Foundation and being able to fit into his busy programme this visit to represent us. The Foundation is very pleased with the association it has been able to make in the assistance given to a number of Air Ambulance regions including that of the Midlands Air Ambulances and Great Western Air Ambulances. The service they provide is vital and something which is continuously developing with the introduction of new life-saving equipment”.
   
   The Henry Surtees Foundation have also actively supported and provided funding for the following Air Ambulances:
   Midlands Air Ambulance
   Great Western Air Ambulance
   Kent, Surrey and Sussex Air Ambulance
   Great North Air Ambulance
   Dorset & Somerset Air Ambulance

   

3. The Air Ambulance Saved My Life

   Posted on 9:00am Sunday 8th May 2016

   Bikesafe2016 is coming to Northamptonshire, a family road safety day with a difference. 

   Organised by Bikesafe and Northamptonshire Highways, Bikesafe is a police led motorcycle initiative that is run by most forces throughout the UK.  And this year we are bringing it to Northamptonshire and the iconic Rockingham Circuit in Corby on Saturday July 16^th.

   Not only bringing it to the county we are delighted to announce our charity partner will be The  Warwickshire and Northamptonshire Air Ambulance. They will be there on the day collecting with proceeds from the gate also going to this cause.

   Northamptonshire Highways are passionate about supporting the service and, not only close to our hearts, but close to Lee Anderson, whose life was saved by air ambulance staff after a serious bike crash.

   Lee can’t remember much about his life-saving helicopter journey from the A508 in Northamptonshire  to Coventry Hospital, but he does know that without the air ambulance’s help, he is unlikely to be alive.

   He said: “What happened to me could happen to anyone. My wheel was faulty and I slid 40 metres into a telegraph post which broke a lot of my ribs and my collarbone in four places. I have thought a lot about it since it happened and the more I think about it the more I owe them. The last thing I remember is telling them that I couldn’t breathe. I found out later that my lungs had filled with blood. The air ambulance came with a doctor who gave me pain-killing drugs, used a scalpel to get into my ribs and pushed into my lungs to release the pressure and I was taken to Walsgrave University Hospital. The journey would have taken more than 30 minutes by ambulance – by air it took six. I think that, with the help of the doctor who was also transported to the roadside by air ambulance, it made all the difference.”

   Mr Anderson, 48, was in a critical condition for 24 hours until he was moved to the cardio-thoracic ward for a week. He was fitted with a new metal collarbone and six weeks after the crash he was back to work.

   He added: “I was saved by a team of people – not only the doctor and the pilot and paramedic, but also the people who shake collection tins on street corners, the fundraisers, which is why I think it is important to support air ambulance week. We need the pilot, the doctor the paramedic – the whole team to make it work, and that is expensive, but there’s no doubt that it saves lives. While one-off donations are great we are desperate for companies to choose the air ambulance as their charity of the year.”

   Lee is urging people to visit the National Bikesafe Show and Track event at the Rockingham Circuit to support the air ambulance. The air ambulance receives no Government or National Lottery funding and needs to raise £1.7m each year just to keep flying and saving lives.

   In August alone the specialist crew flew more than 80 times to save lives.

   For more information about the air ambulance or to donate to the charity visit www.wnaa.co.uk or call 0845 130999.

   The event runs from 10am until 5pm and parking is free.

   Gates to the show open 10am. But to be first on the track he assessed rides start at 8am.

   The police assessed ride and track experience can be booked at www.bikesafe.co.uk

   The National BikeSafe Show & Track Experience @ Rockingham Motor Speedway, Mitchell Road, Corby, Northants. NN17 5AF

   To register for information and updates please simply email [email protected]

   For more details about the show see the event facebook page

   Follow on Twitter @nnhighways @bikesafe

   Northamptonshire Highways, the partnership between Northamptonshire County Council and KierWSP 
   
   www.northamptonshire.gov.uk
   
   www.kierwsp.co.uk

   BikeSafe is a Police led motorcyclist advisory, assessment and referral scheme. www.bikesafe.co.uk

4. Haynes International Motor Museum Appoints New Chief Executive Officer

   Posted on 12:00pm Sunday 24th Jan 2016

   Haynes International Motor Museum is delighted to announce the appointment of Christopher Haynes as CEO. Following a recruitment process and subsequent approval by the Independent Trustees of the Charitable Trust, Christopher assumed responsibility at the end of 2015. He succeeds Marc Haynes who has stepped down to concentrate on his private motorsport business.

   Trustee Neville Sanders commented “It is marvellous that the museum has been able to recruit Christopher to the role of CEO; it provides continuity and strong leadership at this important time. His experience, dedication and proven track record speak for themselves.”

   Christopher Haynes commented; “I am obviously delighted to be appointed CEO of the Haynes International Motor Museum. We are experiencing an exciting period of sustained growth for the museum, the like of which has never been seen before and reflects the huge contribution and legacy that Marc Haynes created. We have several projects for the short and medium term that, together with a focus on our core charitable objectives, will help cement our reputation as a leading global motor museum. I would like to thank the Trustees for their vote of confidence in my abilities and I look forward to working with them, the senior management, staff and volunteers.”

   Christopher has an unparalleled understanding of the museum; having worked in every department and at all levels of seniority from Apprentice to Director. In 2008 he became a Trustee on the Charitable Trust that runs the museum. It was in this position that Christopher played a significant role as part of the project management team that completed the extensive £6m development of the museum, which opened in 2014.

   Mike Penn, Founding Curator and Trustee, commented; “Chris’s heart is intrinsically linked to the museum and the skills and leadership that he demonstrated during the development proved that he is the ideal person to lead the museum”.

5. MAG Scotland Hustings - Answering riders questions‏

   Posted on 9:35am Sunday 5th Apr 2015

   MAG is inviting all motorcyclists and Scooter riders to come along and quiz representatives of Political parties on their party’s policies on motorcycling issues.  This is your chance to ensure politicians are aware of your views and concerns on motorcycling issues.

   Issues such as secure bike parking, bikes in bus-lanes, ITS and the erosion of rider control through state use of telemetric data and automatic speed restrictions, VED, the rider testing regime, parity with other vulnerable road users on sentencing and justice and locally the proposed ban on learners on the existing Forth Road Bridge when the new Forth Crossing opens.

   Where and when 7th April 7pm to 9pm at Sir Arthur Conan Doyle Centre 25 Palmerston  Place, Edinburgh EH12 5AP

   We currently have representatives from the Green Party, Scottish Conservatives, SNP, UKIP, Scottish Labour and are expecting the Lib Dems to confirm a representative on Monday.  What we need now is riders to show we care passionately  about our bikes and scooters and being able to ride them.

   MAG's Director of Public Affairs and Campaigns Lembit Opik will be chairing the meeting, but in keeping with MAG's policy will take an apolitical stance and will ensure we get to hear all views without favour or bias.

   If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to get in touch via e-mail or on 07833264878 and please feel free to pass this message on to other riders you know or share my facebook post on the hustings.

   Steve Wykes

   Regional Representative

   Motorcyle Action Group (Scotland)