Greater Manchester Blood Bikes take delivery of new bike donated by DF Capital
TW: Discusses baby loss
DF Capital, the Manchester-based specialist bank, has today announced it has donated a brand-new Ducati motorcycle to Greater Manchester Blood Bikes, the only blood bike charity operating in Greater Manchester, to transport blood, plasma, platelets, samples, vaccines, donor breast milk and other urgently required medical items to hospitals and healthcare sites across the North West region.
The bike, a Ducati Multistrada V2S, will join the charity’s fleet to be used by volunteer riders for their 24/7 service to hospitals, healthcare sites including air ambulance and Milk Banks. DF Capital has also provided accessories and a cash donation of £1,500 towards the first years running costs.
The bank was introduced to Greater Manchester Blood Bikes through its charity partnership with the Milk Bank at Chester; a charity who provides donor breast milk to NHS hospitals across England and Wales as well as providing their memory milk gift service, championing breast care choices after loss. The donated bike is named in honour of Bodhi, who was sadly still-born at 41-weeks. Bodhi’s mother, Holly, donated her milk and helped the Milk Bank at Chester form their Memory Milk Gift service for bereaved families, all in memory of Bodhi, and through this bike, his legacy will continue to support those in need.
The bike was purchased through DF Capital’s long-standing customer, Ducati Manchester Group who provided a discount on the bike price and look to build a relationship with the Greater Manchester Blood Bikes through their biker network.
Upon handing over the new bike, Carl D’Ammassa, CEO, DF Capital Bank, commented: “Manchester Blood Bikes provide a much-needed transportation service across Greater Manchester for blood, plasma and, importantly to us, donor breast milk. We’ve been thrilled to work with The Milk Bank at Chester, so donating a brand-new Ducati motorcycle to bolster the blood bike fleet is a natural extension for us, keeping up the great work both organisations do across the North-West and further afield. We couldn’t be prouder to be supporting the amazing volunteers in their efforts.”
The new bike was presented to Russ Harrison, Chair and Ric Clark, Fleet Manager at Greater Manchester Blood Bikes, at a small ceremony held at Ducati Manchester’s showroom in Sale. Representatives from The Milk Bank at Chester, DF Capital, Holly and Allie (Bodhi’s mum and grandmother) were also in attendance.
———
About Greater Manchester Blood Bikes
Greater Manchester Blood Bikes is the only blood bikes charity operating in Greater Manchester and we transport blood, plasma, platelets, samples, vaccines, donor breast milk and any other urgently required medical items to hospitals and healthcare sites.
The service they offer is provided free of charge to NHS facilities through their team of volunteers, who all give up their time for no pay or reward.
The service allows local NHS teams to divert funds they would have spent on costly on-demand couriers, to those services where they are needed most within the communities that the charity serves.
GMBB do not receive any payment for their services, or any form of subsidy or government funding and the charity only exists because of the generosity of individuals, organisations, groups and businesses who support us with donations and sponsorships.
For more information www.gmbb.org.uk
About the Milk Bank @ Chester
The Milk Bank @ Chester is the largest NHS milk bank in the England and has provided donor milk to over 70 hospital neonatal units. They supply donor breastmilk anywhere in England and Wales and aim to make safe, screened donor milk available to any baby that needs it regardless of the location of their birth.
For more information visit: www.milkbankatchester.org.uk
