National Blood Bike Awareness Day takes place annually on the second Friday of August. Coordinated by the Nationwide Association of Blood Bikes (NABB), the day honours thousands of UK volunteers providing free out-of-hours medical transport services across the country.

Whiteknights Yorkshire Blood Bikes is one of these volunteer-run charities that delivers free urgent blood samples, medications and other vital supplies through the night, to hospitals and hospices across Yorkshire – hospices including St Luke’s.

To mark National Blood Bike Awareness Day, which takes place on Friday 14 August this year, Whiteknights Yorkshire Blood Bikes visited the hospice this week.

Healthcare providers including St Luke's rely on Whiteknights Yorkshire to transport essential medications to patients' homes and deliver blood samples to local hospitals throughout the night.

For us, the support provided by Whiteknights Yorkshire is an invaluable part of delivering high-quality care. By providing this free, reliable out-of-hours service, Whiteknights helps ours teams deliver timely care, supports patients and families in the community, and ensures vital healthcare resources reach their destination when they are needed most.

Riding to St Luke’s was Ann Pullin, Whiteknights South Yorkshire Manager, and the only female Blood Biker in Yorkshire.

Ann has been at Whiteknights Yorkshire for roughly four and a half years, and says their volunteer work is any time between 7pm and 7am during the week, and any time of the night during the weekend.

“It’s challenging work but it’s very fulfilling, and the response we get makes it all worth it,” says Ann. “The people we are helping, as well as the medical staff, are always so grateful – it makes you realise just how important the work is.”

In July alone, Whiteknights Yorkshire Blood Bikes completed 356 jobs, rode almost 10,000 miles, and delivered over 150 blood and other samples. The time donated is an average saving to the NHS of approximately £13,000 over the month.

National Blood Bike Awareness Day is an opportunity to recognise the dedication of volunteers like Ann and the wider Whiteknights Yorkshire team, whose commitment helps ensure patients receive the care they need, whatever the hour. We're proud to join in thanking them for the invaluable service they provide.