A GROUP of motorbike riders are turning joy rides into lifesaving missions.
The riders are members of Bloodbikes Australia, a volunteer-run organisation that transports blood and medical supplies from rural hospitals to pathology laboratories and city hospitals.
Ipswich man John Davis, said the work helped him cope with PTSD.
Most weekends he collects blood and other medical products from rural hospitals and delivers them to city hospitals and pathology laboratories.
Before Bloodbikes Australia, John spent his free time riding South East Queensland roads solo and as part of a group.
“I was on a motorbike ride one day,” he recalls
“We stopped for coffee and Bloodbikes Brisbane co-ordinator Paul Malcolm told me he thought I’d be a good fit for the organisation.
“I completed two or three introductory runs, did an online course and became a Bloodbiker.”
The Australian chapter of Bloodbikes was founded by Ipswich man Peter Davis, a little over five years ago.
“A mate of mine volunteered for the one in Scotland and I liked the idea,” Peter said.
“There was no downside.
“It was an excuse to go for a ride and do good at the same time.
“A friend of mine worked at the Mater Hospital and knew the general manager of Mater Pathology, Deb Hornsby.
“I spoke to her and she liked the idea.
“She saw the value of a last resort service because when they were stuck, they used taxi drivers who weren’t qualified in transporting medical products.”
Bloodbikes volunteers complete a short online course before joining and they learn how to handle materials.
There are more than 300 fully qualified volunteers in Australia who have made more than 6,000 last resort pick-ups and deliveries.
“We take whatever fits in our little boxes,” John said.
“The boxes are the same as Red Cross transfusion boxes, a nurse took one to [a hardware store] and found something the same.
“It fits into the box we have on our bike when we transport blood for a transfusion.
“We don’t always pick up transfusions, sometimes it’s a polystyrene box full of anything pathology related like urine samples, blood samples and bone samples.”
The precious cargo is layered between ice blocks, products that don’t need cooling are on the top.
“I do the Boonah and Laidley Hospital runs every Saturday,” he said.
“A different blood biker does Esk and Gatton [hospitals].
“We meet up at Plainlands for a bit of a chat and coffee, then one of us takes all four hospital samples to the pathology department at Ipswich Hospital.”
At first only blood products were transported, now deliveries include biopsy materials, COVID samples for testing, stem cells, corneas for transplant, clinical trial program tests, paperwork and files.
The bikers also transport breast milk for babies in neonatal wards and medical consumables for in-home patients.
John said regional hospitals that Bloodbikes service had no weekend pathology courier until their services stepped in.
“Volunteers put their names on a list stating when they are available to work and allocations are made using that information,” he said.
“If you are like me and retired, instead of sitting at home doing nothing you can go for a bike ride and do a good deed at the same time.
Frank Riccobon also lives in Ipswich and has been a Bloodbikes Australia member for almost three years.
“A Ulysses Club member gave a talk on Bloodbikes and I thought it was a wonderful idea,” he said.
“I figured it was a nice way to keep riding, which is what I love doing anyway.
“My first run was a very satisfying experience, it felt good to do something that made a difference.”
Frank has ridden motorcycles for 35 years and is a self-funded retiree.
“Bike riding is my passion and being able to help with Bloodbikes is just the best thing ever,” he said.
“I do the weekend runs because I drive a school bus weekdays.”
He said bus driving was a casual gig because motorbikes cost money.
Bloodbikes Australia volunteers pay for their own fuel, helmets and protective gear as well as any motorcycle wear and tear.
