Around 8pm on Wednesday night, I was in Pontypool McDonald’s and spotted a man taking off a thick biker’s jacket with the word ‘blood’ on the back.
There is a depot for Blood Bikes Wales next door to Cwmbran Fire Station, and it’s been on my ‘story to-do’ list for ages.
It’s a special service run by volunteers. These incredible people use motorbikes to courier blood samples, plasma, donated breast milk, and even documents between hospitals and health settings across Wales.
I asked the man if he was from the Cwmbran depot. He had no idea where it was. This man told me he was from mid-Wales and had also had a full-time job. He finished work that day and logged in as a volunteer. He had just safely transported blood from Bronllys Hospital in Brecon to The Grange Hospital in Cwmbran.
Now that the job was complete, he was taking a well-earned break before heading back home. He didn’t look like he loved doing this important job, he actually told me how much he loved it, and how he can’t wait to retire from his day job later this year so he can spend more time on the road with Blood Bike Wales.
So next time you’re on Henllys Way, maybe filling up with fuel in the petrol station, look out for the team in the unit opposite.
Donate to Blood Bikes Wales
The service relies on donations. You can donate to Blood Bikes Wales here.