Volunteers that deliver urgent blood samples in Hampshire get cash boost for new bike

The Blood Runners from SERV Wessex travel 170,000 miles in a year and carry out about 2,500 deliveries free to the NHS including blood, plasma, baby milk and heart transplant monitors.

Volunteers typically cover 77 per cent of that mileage using their own vehicles and paying all their own fuel and costs; the £15,000 from Tesco Bags of Help Centenary Grant, in partnership with charity Groundwork, will ease the financial burden.

SERV Wessex Treasurer and Trustee and Blood Biker Tim Bennett said: ‘Thank you to all of the Tesco customers who voted for us during the voting period by putting their blue tokens in our box.

‘The money will make a significant difference to our charity.’

SERV Wessex works in Hampshire, Dorset and South Wiltshire, delivering blood and urgent medical samples for 365 days a year between 7pm and 6am daily and 24 hrs on weekends and Bank Holidays.

The charity also provides a continuous service to resupply the Hampshire and Isle of Wight Air Ambulance based at Thruxton with the blood and plasma carried on the aircraft and in their critical care cars.

It also carries out an ad hoc service to collect and deliver human baby milk to hospitals and transport heart monitors.

Tesco head of community Alec Brown said: ‘Bags of Help contributes funds to community projects up and down the country and we’ve been overwhelmed by the response from customers voting in their local stores.

‘We’re looking forward to seeing more projects brought to life.’

Groundwork’s national chief executive, Graham Duxbury, added: ‘Bags of Help continues to enable local communities up and down Britain to improve the local spaces and places that matter to them.’

Three groups in each Tesco region were shortlisted to receive grants of £25,000, £15,000 and £10,000 and shoppers voted for who should receive the top grant.

For more information about the Blood Runners visit servwessex.org.uk/