On Friday 14 August, the Provincial Grand Lodge of Mark Master Masons of East Lancashire joins Blood Bike charities and their supporters across the country in celebrating Blood Bikes Awareness Day.
Blood Bikes provide one of those essential services that often takes place quietly, behind the scenes. When blood, medical samples, platelets, surgical instruments, donor milk or other clinical products need to be transported urgently, volunteer riders and drivers are ready to help.
The Nationwide Association of Blood Bikes currently represents 36 member groups across the United Kingdom and Ireland. These groups are staffed by unpaid volunteers and provide a professional rapid-response medical transport service free of charge to the NHS. Volunteers serve in many different roles, including riders, drivers, controllers, fundraisers and those who maintain the vehicles and equipment needed to keep the service operating.
A decade of support from the Mark Benevolent Fund
The relationship between the Mark Benevolent Fund and Blood Bikes began in 2016 following an application from Northumbria Blood Bikes.
That initial support developed into a major national project. In May 2017, Mark Master Masons from across the country took part in the MBF Charity Walk through London’s Royal Parks. East Lancashire was represented by its own Provincial team, and the event raised an outstanding £437,934.
The money was used to purchase specially equipped vehicles for Blood Bike charities. At the national handover in 2018, 16 motorcycles and 10 response cars were presented to 26 Blood Bike teams from across England and Wales. Representatives from East Lancashire joined those from other Mark Provinces to celebrate what had been achieved.
The support has continued. At a national celebration hosted by the Mark Benevolent Fund in 2025, 31 Blood Bike charities and 39 Mark Provinces came together to recognise funding of £694,615 for new motorcycles and cars. Since the partnership began in 2016, the MBF has contributed more than £1.2 million to the Blood Bike network.
The benefit in East Lancashire and the North West
Most recently, representatives from East Lancashire joined colleagues from Cheshire and West Lancashire for the presentation of a new emergency response vehicle to North West Blood Bikes. The vehicle is helping volunteers transport urgent blood, medical samples and supplies between hospitals across the region. These are not simply vehicles displayed at presentation ceremonies. Each motorcycle and response car becomes a working part of a volunteer fleet. It helps ensure that a rider or driver is available when an urgent call is received, that deliveries can continue during poor weather and that larger or more sensitive consignments can be transported safely.
The results of that support can be seen much closer to home.
In 2018, the Mark Benevolent Fund provided a Dacia Duster response vehicle to Blood Bikes Manchester. A response car is particularly valuable when weather conditions make motorcycle use unsuitable or when larger consignments and equipment need to be carried.
Further help followed in 2022 after one of Greater Manchester Blood Bikes’ motorcycles was stolen and badly damaged. Although the bike was recovered and repaired, it had already travelled more than 85,000 miles and was approaching the end of its working life. The charity had been left with only three motorcycles to cover more than 500 square miles.
The MBF responded with an award of £18,801 to purchase a more reliable and economical replacement motorcycle, helping the volunteers maintain their service throughout Greater Manchester and the surrounding area.
Recognising the people behind the vehicles
On Blood Bikes Awareness Day, we thank every volunteer who gives their time to keep this remarkable service operating.
Some ride through the night. Others drive response vehicles, coordinate calls, raise funds, clean and maintain the fleet, attend community events or make sure that each package is handled correctly and delivered to the right destination.
Their work supports hospitals, laboratories, hospices, air ambulances and specialist services, while being provided free of charge to the NHS.
The Mark Benevolent Fund’s support demonstrates what can be achieved when charitable giving is directed towards a clear and practical need. From the fundraising efforts of Brethren across the country to the motorcycles and vehicles now working on our roads, the result is a lasting service to patients and healthcare teams.
This Blood Bikes Awareness Day, please help us thank the volunteers, raise awareness of their work and recognise the difference that Mark Benevolent Fund support continues to make here in East Lancashire and throughout the country.
