Generous staff at Russell Roof Tiles have raised an impressive £24,000, enabling two Blood Bikes charities to buy two much-needed new motorbikes.
The two nominated Blood Bikes charities – Shropshire & Staffordshire Blood Bikes (SSBB) and Dumfries & Galloway Blood Bikes (D&GBB) – became Russell’s official charities of the year for 2016.
Over the past 12 months the company’s fundraising activities – at its sites in Lochmaben and Burton on Trent – have included a sponsored weight loss, twin peaks challenge (Ben Nevis and Scafell Pike), family fun day, as well as numerous football matches, a charity golf day and a version of “superstars”, a 1500m run, bowling and a 20km bike ride.
Both charities are volunteer-led organisations providing essential delivery services, transporting lifesaving medical supplies and delivering vital blood samples to NHS Foundations, or healthcare sites – doing hundreds of runs every month. Currently neither charity receive any government funding at all.
Andrew Hayward, Managing Director at Russell Roof Tiles, comments: “Our team has worked incredibly hard for the charities and we are delighted to have raised enough for new bikes which will help both Blood Bikes teams in their essential work in the local community in saving lives.
“Having worked with both charities over the last year we have learnt much more about the essential service they provide across our regions and it is shocking that such crucial services are only possible due to the commitment of volunteers.”
Dave Hook, Chairman of Dumfries & Galloway Blood Bikes, adds: “This donation by Russell Roof Tiles will make a huge difference to the charity. We are staffed entirely by volunteers which means every penny donated to the Blood Bikes goes directly towards our operating costs, which include fuel, servicing and tyres to help the patients and families of the NHS.”
Helen Bundy, Chair of Shropshire and Staffordshire Blood Bikes added: “A brand new NABB (Nationwide Association of Blood Bikes) approved motorcycle will enable us to provide an even better service to local hospitals as reliability is a major factor for us. Being able to buy a brand-new motorcycle is quite a coup for any Blood Bike charity.”
For more information on Russell Roof Tiles, visit: www.russellrooftiles.co.uk
