Bloodbikes hit road to save lives

Pictured above: From left, Bloodbike volunteers Paul Malcolm (North Lakes), Carolyn Byrne (North Lakes), Philip McCarter (Bridgeman Downs), Anthony Magnani (Brighton) and John Davis (Willowbank).

Seventeen Moreton Bay volunteers are part of a free “last-resort service” transporting vital blood and medical supplies.

Bloodbikes Australia started five years ago in Brisbane and has now completed more than 600 pick-ups and deliveries with its growing team of currently 352 qualified riders.

Bloodbikes started transporting blood, but deliveries now include biopsies, COVID tests, stemcells, corneas for transplant, clinical trial program tests, paperwork and files.

Also, donor breast milk, personal items left by patients when discharged and medical consumables for in-home patients. 

Founder Peter Davis said Moreton Bay’s volunteers are across the region, from Bribie down to Kallangur, Burpengary, Redcliffe and beyond.

Further afield, 81 volunteers live in Brisbane, 15 are on the Gold Coast, 11 at the Sunshine Coast and eight on the Darling Downs.

“I had a mate volunteering for Bloodbikes Scotland and thought, what a great idea, a chance to do what I love, riding motorcycles and doing some good,” Mr Davis said.

“We don’t compete with pathology providers, we are a last-resort service. Here’s a group just wanting to help for nothing.

“We have a full spectrum of people volunteering with us. It’s a very individual thing to do. I see it as an excuse to go for a ride!

“We own their own bikes. We’re not a charity. We don’t have a bank account. We just have capacity ... and want to do this work.”

Mr Davis stressed: “Bloodbikes Australia volunteers are not ‘wannabe’ police or ambulance, we are not emergency vehicles and we abide by all road rules.

“Our challenge is to get more healthcare providers like the Mater, Institute of Glycomics, St Vincents Sydney and the Gold Coast University Hospital to realise we are here, what services we deliver and dollars that can be saved.”

Bloodbikes has discussed its service with Redcliffe Hospital and hopes hospitals in Caboolture and Bribie will join.

A web-based system enables volunteers to list – and healthcare providers to see - when Bloodbike riders are available.

They have covered more than 776,000kms since the first 'job' for Mater Pathology in Brisbane on September 2, 2019.

Working in relays for longer distances, the average ride is around 120kms, with the longest being 998kms from Perth to Geraldton in West Australia.

Bloodbikes currently works with 63 healthcare providers in Cairns, Brisbane, Gold Coast, Sunshine Coast, Hervey Bay, Northern NSW, Sydney, Canberra, Melbourne, Adelaide, Perth and Tasmania.

These include hospitals at Cairns, Ipswich, Boonah, Laidley, Esk, Gatton, Gold Coast Hospital, Lismore, Tweed Heads, Coffs Harbour, Hunter Health District, St John of God, Lions Eye Donation Service and Canberra Hospital.

For more information on Bloodbikes Australia click here.

To use the Bloodbikes Australia free service or become a Bloodbikes volunteer email [email protected]