A CHARITY which is helping NHS Fife meet the challenges posed by Covid-19 is in need of support to keep the wheels turning and bring key items for use to the Kingdom in the battle against coronavirus.

Blood Bikes provide a free volunteer-run motorcycle courier service to a number of NHS Scotland health boards, including NHS Fife.

Blood Bikes expanded their services to NHS Fife in 2019 and were initially contracted for two shifts per week delivering medical instruments, paperwork, and baby milk across the Kingdom.

The service used to be a weekend one but through the pandemic it is now running daily.

Derrick Sachs, a Kennoway based Volunteer Rider with the charity, said: “Blood Bikes Scotland has been operating in Scotland for several years providing a free service utilising a fleet of liveried motorcycles.

“Up to the last few weeks, this has been a weekend service in Fife, but now due to the COVID-19 pandemic, our services have been called upon ever increasingly. This is a great saving to NHS Fife and the wider Scottish NHS who would otherwise use taxis or courier services.

“Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, public fundraising has been postponed which is having an impact on our charity's fundraising activities. The running cost of the charity, which is staffed by volunteers with every penny raised going towards its running, is approximately £3,500 per month. any support the public could give would be most welcome."

Kinglassie MSP, Jenny Gilruth, has commended the work of the charity for helping NHS Fife respond to the unprecedented health challenges posed by Covid-19 coronavirus.

Since the coronavirus outbreak began, the charity has been providing 24 shifts a week to help NHS Fife, including motorcycles dedicated to serving the COVID-19 testing centre at Cameron Hospital in Windygates, and the coronavirus centre at the Victoria Hospital in Kirkcaldy.

The running cost of the organisation is approximately £3,500 per month. With fundraising activities being halted due to the pandemic, Blood Bikes Scotland are calling on donations to help sustain the service through these difficult times. Online donations can be made through their website: https://bloodbikesscotland.co.uk/donate

Commenting on Blood Bikes’ work locally, Glenrothes and Mid Fife MSP, Jenny Gilruth, said: “Blood Bikes Scotland is providing a vital service across Fife to support our NHS as we face up to the greatest peacetime challenge in our lifetimes.

“The charity is providing additional support for free during the coronavirus outbreak, which is helping to lighten the load for our NHS by transporting samples, medicines, and medical instruments across the Kingdom and beyond. I know Blood Bikes will make good use of any donations they receive at this time.

“Here in Mid Fife and Glenrothes, the community response in the fight against coronavirus has been second to none. I am grateful to every individual, community group and charity who are playing their part to support the most vulnerable in our society and to all my constituents who are following the Government’s advice to stay at home to protect our NHS and save lives.”

Derrick Sachs concluded: “We hope to raise awareness of our work to the wider public who may not be aware of our existence and what we do, and thank Jenny Gilruth MSP for her support in helping people get to know what we do.”