Blood Bikes boost as Meath Bike Meets revs up St Patrick's Day parade fundraising drive

Meath Bike Meets will be fundraising for the Cú Chulainn Blood Bikes organisation at Navan's St Patrick's Day parade.

Meath Bike Meets invite all biking enthusiasts to join them at the Navan parade to raise funds for the organisation who provide a swift but free volunteer service to hospitals in the Health Service Executive (HSE) North Eastern Region of Ireland.

The Cú Chulainn Blood Bikes formed on the 1st April, 2016 to provide a free volunteer motorcycle transportation service for the safe pick-up and delivery of urgently needed blood, blood products, human tissues, patient files, x-rays and infant milk.

Meath Bike Meets’ Kevin Booth said: “As bikers ourselves, what these guys do on a daily basis resonated with us very much and I'm sure a lot of people in the community have been helped by these guys, maybe even unbeknownst to themselves.”

Derek Duffy of Cú Chulainn Blood Bikes said: “CCBB was set up about eight years ago. We looked after all the hospitals in the North- East stretching over five counties for the HSE. For the NHS we also look after the only breastmilk bank in the whole of Ireland, covering the entire country with our partner Blood Bike groups.

“Something that we don't advertise too often but we also collect bloods from children with leukaemia from their homes to help and support families in that way as well.”

“Cú Chulainn Blood Bikes are funded solely on public donations and utilises highly trained volunteer riders coupled with specially customised high-powered motorcycles.”

Speaking about funding, Derek said: “Money is always a problem. Our insurance for our motorbikes is roughly €6.5k a year. We have five motorbikes and three vans. The vans are essential for the breast milk because of the quantities were dealing with. It's turned into a big operation.”

“The CCBB volunteer service relieves the pressure on already strained HSE and NHS ambulance crews. Volunteer riders service to the following hospitals within in the North-Eastern area: Navan Hospital, Our Lady's Hospital, Drogheda, Cavan General Hospital, Louth County Hospital and to Monaghan General Hospital.

“In addition, we provide a cross-border service into County Fermanagh.”

On the day of the parade, volunteers of the Blood Bikes group will be present with donation buckets for all who wish to fund the worthy charity. There is also a GoFundMe page which can be found by searching 'MBM Paddy's Day Parade for Cú Chulainn Blood Bikes'.

Meath Bike Meets was founded two years ago by Aaron Murphy who came up with the concept of creating a social group to bring the biking community together.

Within the two years with help of the other three admins Kevin Booth, Noel O'Rourke and Dennis Morozov, the group now has 1,200 members.

With the support of the Devils Disciples Motorcycle Club, MBM have more upcoming fundraisers such as 'Ride into Light' Sosad Run on 11th May and a Meath River Rescue Run in July.

They also hold bike meets all summer long for the members to come together.

Meath Bike Meets expressed how donations big or small make a huge difference: “We would be grateful if people can follow the GoFundMe and donate whatever they can.”

Meanwhile, Planning is underway for the Trim St Patrick’s Day Parade and chief organiser Jimmy Ryan is appealing to all local groups to get involved.

Jimmy is encouraging those involved with clubs and groups to use this opportunity to advertise their group for free. Those interested in showcasing their talent before the parade are also urged to get in touch.

The committee is also contacting all businesses in the town of Trim looking for donations to help fund the parade. This year the parade will be going green and recycling and reuse will be the theme. There is also a shop window competition on the same theme.

Jimmy said: “Many members of the old committee have retired having given years of service to the Trim parade and so we are also looking for more people to join our committee or if you can just appear on the day, as we will be needing stewards to help us”.

If you would like to take part in Trim’s St Patrick’s Day Parade please get in contact with chief organiser, Jimmy Ryan on (083) 8015284 or Noel on (086) 8053293, email noeltrim@gmail.com

The parade commences at 3.30pm from the Ring Road and will go up Patrick St, onto Emmet St, Market St and finishing at Castle St.