GATEWAY Club members were delighted when a member of the Bloodbike charity Freewheelers paid a visit to Burnham Area Youth Centre. 

Weston-super-Mare resident Richard Reeves visited the group yesterday, Thursday, June 7.

The Freewheelers charity is an emergency voluntary service that provides a free out-of-hours motorcycle courier service to hospitals in the South West of England.

Burnham and Highbridge Weekly News: Member Andrew Gordon tries the bike Member Andrew Gordon tries the bike

Richard brought along his bike for the members to examine, talk about, and ask lots of questions, and was clearly the highlight of the evening.

Sally Meek, leader of the Gateway Club, a club for adults with learning difficulties, said: “Richard comes and brings his bike and talks about the work he does and about his bike. The members of the club just enjoy chatting with him.

“We try to meet at least once a year, they look forward to seeing him and hearing about his stories.”

Sally also said the meetings are important to raise awareness for the charity within the group as it is important to know there is someone “willing to help”.

Burnham and Highbridge Weekly News: Gateway Club members with Richard's bikeGateway Club members with Richard's bike

Freewheelers transport blood, pathology and microbiology specimens, patient notes, X-rays, breast milk, and other medical supplies, plus deliver every night to two local Air Ambulance bases.

During the Covid year 2020-21, they made over 7792 deliveries, riding more than 225,000 miles.

As the charity’s website explains, in 2008, in recognition of the volunteers’ dedicated work, they were given The Queen’s Award for Voluntary Service.

This is the highest honour a voluntary group can receive, equivalent in status to an MBE. In 2020, we celebrated our 30th year as a charity ‘Riding for Life’ Our service is provided entirely by volunteers and we depend fully on public sponsorship and donations.

For more information about the service, visit the website here.