CHRISTMAS has come early for a charity providing vital out-of-hours blood and other medical transportation.

A former Pembroke resident, with a love of motorbikes, Richard Evans, made a huge donation to the Blood Bike service, meaning a brand new motorbike could be bought.

Richard donated £30,000 to the charity which will keep the bike on the road in Pembrokeshire for around five years.

Blood Bike Wales is a group of volunteers helping to transport blood supplies, plasma, breast milk, documents and other items between hospitals out of hours.

The NHS uses its own transportation system to move supplies Monday to Friday. But between 7pm and 7am on weekdays, and during weekends and bank holidays, the police, ambulance service, taxis and couriers were relied on to carry supplies.

Richard now lives in Kent but had heard from family still in the area that the local ‘blood bike’ needed upgrading and more volunteers would be appreciated.

“They desperately needed a new motorbike and funds so I thought it would be a nice thing to do. Donate the money to buy a new motorbike and run it, as well as insurance.

“They had a really old, knackered one, it was an ex-police bike but it was unreliable. They have been doing their own fundraising but I wanted to set them up really, to give a good foundation.”

Phil Harries, who runs the Hywel Dda South Blood Bike coverage, which includes Pembrokeshire to Carmarthen, said the new bike would make a big difference.

“This will be our main bike, for us it’s brilliant. We’re always out doing fundraising to keep everything afloat and everybody’s a volunteer – riders, coordinators, fundraisers,” he added.

The new bike is named Sarah, after a hardworking fundraiser from Dinas Cross, Sarah Watson, who sadly died earlier this year.

Sarah’s husband Andrew is a Blood Bike member and of the tribute to his wife said online: “I thank all members of Blood Bikes for naming the new Blood Bike after my much missed wife, Sarah Watson.”

Phil added: “Sarah was with us when Blood Bikes was put together, around two years ago. We went live on March 1 this year.”

The charity has around 15 riders but is always looking for new volunteers. Find out more at bloodbikeswales.org.uk or email Phil at hywelddasouth@bloodbikeswales.org.uk.