Chair’s Welcome
Welcome to Shropshire Staffordshire & Cheshire Blood Bikes (SSCBB)
Firstly, I would like to say how honoured and humbled I am to take on the role of Chair at SSCBB. This is a charity with an outstanding reputation, built over many years through the commitment, professionalism, and dedication of its volunteers. To now be part of helping guide that journey forward is something I take very seriously. What impressed me most was not just the service itself, but the people behind it. SSCBB is full of individuals who quietly give up their time, often at unsociable hours, simply because they want to help others. There is a genuine sense of purpose, teamwork, and pride throughout the organisation, and that is something very special.
Motorcycling has been a big part of my life; I rode my first motorcycle at the age of 12. Like many riders, it started as a passion for the freedom and enjoyment that biking brings, but over time it also became about the community and camaraderie that exists within the biking world.
I have always believed motorcycles are at their best when they bring people together with a shared purpose, and Blood Bikes is perhaps one of the finest examples of that. It combines a love of riding with something genuinely meaningful and worthwhile. Over the years I have ridden a variety of bikes, but for me it has never really been about the machine itself, it has always been about the people, the experiences, and the sense of community that comes with it.
SSCBB is already an exceptionally well-run and respected charity, and my aspiration is not to reinvent it. My focus is on supporting the volunteers, strengthening the organisation where needed, and helping ensure the charity continues to thrive long into the future.
As SSCBB continues to grow and evolve, I believe it is important that we maintain the values and culture that have made us so successful, while also ensuring we continue to operate professionally, responsibly, and sustainably.
Most importantly, I want people to feel listened to, respected, and part of the journey.
Colin Cummins-White | Chair
What people say about us
“The blood bikes are vital to getting our life saving faecal transplants to critically ill patients with C. dificile infection”
Professor Peter Hawkey, FMT Service Lead, PHE Public Health Laboratory Birmingham
“On a regular basis we need to transport samples urgently, between Shrewsbury and Telford, and also from here in Shropshire to Birmingham and beyond. In the past it has been quite difficult, out of hours, to get those samples moving quickly, so it has made a huge difference to us to be able to rely on blood bikes to get those samples moving for us.”
Debbie Jones, Support Services Care Group Director Shrewsbury and Telford Hospital NHS Trust
“The voluntary service the blood bikes offer us has been instrumental in widening the scope of our FMT service across the country and ensuring costs are a low as possible for the NHS”
Dr Vicki McCune, FMT Service Manager PHE Public Health Laboratory Birmingham
“There is certainly times when the quicker we can get results back, the better the outcome for the patient, so blood bikes are helping to save lives and, at the same time, they are saving the NHS lots of money”
Debbie Jones, Support Services Care Group Director Shrewsbury and Telford Hospital NHS Trust
“We are so grateful to the volunteer riders who give up their time to courier blood products and urgent samples for testing between our hospitals and the regional NHS Blood and Transplant (NHSBT) centre in Birmingham. Every minute counts when it comes to helping seriously-ill and injured patients and being able to call on the blood bikes round the clock helps us to provide safe, effective treatment and transfusions.”
Paula Gardener, Chief Nurse Burton Hospital Trust (covering Burton, Lichfield and Tamworth)
“We very much appreciate all of their efforts and the support they give both SaTH and the wider NHS.”
Debbie Jones, Support Services Care Group Director Shrewsbury and Telford Hospital NHS Trust
Want to help?
