Bikers take to roads of Cornwall for NHS Ride of Thanks
Riders will make their way from Bodmin and Penzance to Truro College on Sunday (19th September)
Last updated 19th Sep 2021
Bikers are taking to the roads of Cornwall to thank the key workers who have kept us going during the pandemic.
Riders will make their way to Truro College from two starting points in Bodmin and Penzance.
The rides are part of NHS Ride of Thanks events happening across the UK on Sunday 19th September.
In Cornwall, they are raising money for the Cornwall Blood Bikes and Cornwall Air Ambulance.
Organiser Chris Day said: "NHS rides of Thanks are taking place all over the UK on Sunday 19th September to give bikers an opportunity to say thank you to the NHS and all key workers who have worked selflessly all the way through the pandemic.
"We are taking this opportunity to raise money for Cornwall Blood Bikes and Cornwall Air Ambulance and all proceeds from the rides in Cornwall will be passed to them.
"There are two rides in Cornwall; one leaving Asda in Bodmin and one leaving Sainsbury's in Penzance - both leaving at 11am on Sunday 19th September.
"Both rides are planning to arrive at Truro College at similar times.
"Donations of £5 per bike collected at the starting points. There will also be collection points at the finish point too.
"We would like to thank all of the volunteers that have worked behind the scenes to make this Cornwall ride of thanks possible".
Jayne Penlerick from Cornwall Blood Bikes explains why the service is very grateful for the support: "We are a group of self funding volunteers operating as a registered charity to provide a free out of hours service to our NHS partners throughout Cornwall and beyond.
"We received no NHS or Government funding, we are funded by the outstanding generosity from the communities of Cornwall, with every single penny going back into keeping our wheels turning.
"We deliver and collect whole blood, pathology samples, suspect Covid-19 swabs, medication, patient notes, medical equipment, donor breast milk and much more.
"Last year on the 17th March we launched our 24/7 service to support our NHS in the most challenging of times. We ran this service until the 22nd September 2020.
"For our 2020 year, our volunteer riders completed 5,853 operational jobs and covered 229,463 operational miles".
Cornwall's NHS Ride of Thanks events will leave Asda in Bodmin and Sainsbury's in Penzance at 11am on Sunday 19th September.