Hertfordshire Mark Masons donates blood car to bicycle service UK News

A car that delivers 24-hour blood transfusions, breast milk for newborns and Covid test results is already making emergency deliveries after a charitable donation.

The Mark Masons of Hertfordshire fully funded and donated a new blood car to supplement the existing service by Emergency Response Volunteers (SERV) Herts and Beds Blood Bikes.

The blood bikes – and the new car – run 24/7 and provide services including delivery of blood for transfusions, breast milk for babies in newborn care and, most recently, samples. coronavirus test and antibody tests.

The service operates 24 hours a day, with four drivers and a controller. Its 70 volunteers handle around 7,000 calls for help per year.

It relies entirely on charitable donations and self-funding, with their drivers volunteering their service and paying for their own fuel.

Hertfordshire Provincial Grandmaster Mark Masons handed the keys to the new car to SERV Chairman Ian Hunt in a ceremony on May 19.

Mr Hunt said: “We have been to several places already, the car has been essential in so many ways.

“It has been used for emergency blood and a number of errands for the folks at Keech Hospice in Luton, serving as a bridge between patients receiving blood transfusions, and going through particularly difficult times.

“In addition, the Milk Bank has had many requests that would not have been possible by bike.

Dr Natalie Shenker, founder and driving force of the Human Milk Foundation, part of SERV, said: “The Herts Milk Bank has grown from a start-up to one of the largest breast milk banks in the world. country in the past four years. , and there is no doubt that our charity could not have been successful without the continued support of SERV Herts and Beds.

“It’s wonderful that our charities are growing together, and the arrival of this car will allow much larger volumes of valuable donor milk to be collected and delivered to our region and beyond.

“Thank you again very much – all the hospitals and families Herts is able to support will truly benefit from the generosity of the Hertfordshire Mark Freemasons.”