Emergency Blood Transport Charity Seeks Funding for Vehicle Fleet

The Teesside-based Bloodrun Emergency Voluntary Service (EVS), which transports emergency blood supplies to hospitals 24/7, is seeking financial assistance to maintain its vehicle fleet. This organization primarily functions as a courier service connecting hospitals in Hartlepool, Stockton, and Middlesbrough, with operations frequently extending to Manchester and Leeds. The service incurs annual running costs of approximately £30,000, and a number of its motorcycles and cars are around a decade old. Ryan Hubbard, a driver and one of roughly 70 volunteers, stated that securing funds for vehicle maintenance and fuel expenses is a constant challenge. Speaking to BBC Radio Tees, Mr. Hubbard highlighted that many individuals are unaware the charity operates entirely on donations from the public and businesses. He explained, “We find even when we’re going into the hospitals some of the people who work on the wards think we’re a company, but we’re volunteers.” He attributed this perception to their appearance: “It’s because we drive around in vehicles and bikes that look like emergency vehicles. People just assume [we’re part of the NHS]. I don’t think they’re fully aware of what we do.” Mr. Hubbard added, “We go to community events to raise awareness and we do quite a lot of talks with local groups, trying to get out to as many people as we can and raise vital funds while doing that.” He also noted the ongoing difficulty, stating, “It is [a struggle every day], especially in the winter when there are no big events.” The charity’s fleet consists of five motorbikes, approximately five cars, and one van. It recently added a new motorcycle and two hybrid cars, with plans to continue replacing older vehicles that have accumulated significant mileage. Bloodrun EVS estimates that its services saved the NHS £79,000 in taxi charges during the past year alone. In addition to initiating a raffle via its website and social media platforms, Bloodrun EVS is encouraging individuals to “sponsor a shift.” Mr. Hubbard, who works in banking during the day, elaborated, “A night shift for us is around 20 to 30 pounds to cover fuel and a small bit towards insurance.” He further explained, “We do have a day shift where we respond to urgent calls from hospitals. They’re a little bit different because you could be driving hundreds of miles on those, but even just a small donation towards that is a big help.” The charity is also preparing for its yearly Santa Run, an event where volunteers visit hospitals to distribute selection boxes to young patients and staff members.