BLOOD Bikes Wales is a charity made up of volunteers who give up their free time to help the country’s health service: delivering blood, breast milk, test samples; anything that will fit on the back of a bike.

However, at the moment, there is no group based in north and mid Powys; most volunteers have to travel all the way from Aberystwyth to reach places such as Llandrindod Wells.

Tyron Stevenson, vice chairman of Blood Bikes Wales, said: “The Powys Teaching Health Board (PTHB) don’t have their own blood testing facilities. Everything has to be moved from one hospital to another.”

After 2pm, Blood Bikes Wales offers urgent transport for medical samples and supplies. This would otherwise have to be arranged by the NHS; saving it time and money. However, the worry is that a volunteer called out from the Blood Bikes’ Aberystwyth base to Powys could be needed locally at a moment’s notice; putting people’s lives at risk.

To tackle the demand for the service in north and mid Powys, Blood Bikes Wales is setting up a group in Llandrindod Wells. The group already has two bikes, which are no longer needed elsewhere, and the Mid and West Wales Fire and Rescue Service has allowed them to be stationed at its Llandrindod Wells Fire Station.

Tyron said: “It has been really great working with the fire service. We always get a lot of support from the fire service as a whole.

“Keeping our bikes at the station means we can always access them when we need them.”

There are already half a dozen volunteers from this area of Powys who will form part of the new Llandrindod Wells group; most from the Llandrindod and Rhayader areas. There is also a volunteer rider from the Newtown area who is part of the Shropshire group as it is currently the closest to him.

Blood Bikes Wales held a meeting in Llandrindod Wells in December and now it has 14 volunteers signed up. However, a team of 20 to 25 people, including 15 riders who need to be advanced qualified, are required for the group to run on its own.

Tyron said: “It’s really rewarding.

“It’s not only for riders, we need background staff too: fundraisers and controllers. Anybody can have something to do and give back to the community.

“It is really, really rewarding.”

n A volunteer recruitment meeting will be held at 11am on Saturday, January 19, at Llandrindod Wells Fire Station, Noyadd Park, LD1 5DF.

For more details ring 0300 303 3352 or email llandod@bloodbikes.wales