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Support for Yeovil Freewheelers Blood Bikes
AVoptics Proud to Support Yeovil Freewheelers Blood Bikes
AVoptics is proud to support Yeovil Freewheelers (YFW), a local charity providing a vital service to the NHS and communities across Somerset and Dorset.
Run entirely by volunteers and funded through donations, Yeovil Freewheelers operates a free service 24 hours a day, seven days a week, transporting urgent medical items wherever they are needed.
The charity is also approaching an impressive milestone. They are heading towards their 50th anniversary in 2028.
We recently spoke to the team to find out more about the work they do, the people behind the bikes and the difference the service makes every day.
What does Yeovil Freewheelers do?
The team explained that their riders transport much more than blood.
“We carry blood, platelets, blood and tissue samples, medication, breast milk, documents, CT scans and equipment to hospitals, hospices and nursing homes, as well as private addresses across much of Somerset and all of Dorset.”
By providing the service free of charge, the charity saves NHS Trusts well over £400,000, while helping patients receive important medication, samples and other medical items as quickly as possible.
What inspires someone to become a Blood Bikes volunteer?
For one volunteer, joining the charity provided an opportunity to combine a lifelong interest with something worthwhile.
“I took early retirement and wanted to combine my love of motorcycling with doing something that may be useful and make a difference to people’s lives. The messages of thanks and gratitude I get from people when they arrive are life-affirming and motivate me to keep going.”
It is a simple answer that says a lot about the people behind the charity. More than 100 volunteers currently support Yeovil Freewheelers, and nobody receives a salary for the work they do.
Sometimes one delivery can make all the difference
When we asked for an example of a memorable job, the team shared the story of an elderly lady who was ready to leave hospital and return home to her family.
The hospital pharmacy did not have all of her medication available at the time she was discharged. Rather than keeping her in hospital waiting, she was able to return home knowing that Blood Bikes would deliver the remaining medication when it was ready.
“By 20:00 that evening, I was looking for a remote farm near Castle Cary in the pouring rain to deliver her medication. Her husband was extremely grateful and said how lovely it was that she had been able to come home in daylight and they could simply wait for our delivery.”
It is one journey among many, but it shows why the service matters. Sometimes the job isn't just about moving an item from one location to another. It can mean getting somebody home to their family sooner.
Keeping the bikes on the road
Running the service comes at a considerable cost.
Yeovil Freewheelers told us that its operating costs are around £60,000 per year, before additional costs such as support software and insurance are taken into account.
Higher fuel costs are putting additional pressure on the charity, while donations, including major donations, are currently around £20,000 down this year.
“Any donation, however small, is welcomed to keep the bikes on the road and ensure we can keep providing this vital service.”
Looking towards the future
One of the charity's ambitions is to establish its own headquarters.
At present, the team operates from garages on NHS properties. A dedicated headquarters would give the charity a proper base for its bikes and volunteers, while also providing somewhere to welcome supporters, donors and host events.
AVoptics is pleased to support this next chapter, with our donation being set aside specifically for the charity's accommodation project fund.
Supporting organisations such as Yeovil Freewheelers is important to us because the benefit stays right here within the communities in which we live and work.
Behind every Blood Bike is a volunteer giving their own time. Behind every journey is a hospital, healthcare professional, patient or family waiting for something important to arrive.
When we asked the team to describe Yeovil Freewheelers in just three words, their answer was fittingly simple:
“Dedicated. Passionate. Volunteer.”
AVoptics is delighted to support the team and, most importantly, to say thank you to every volunteer who gives their time to keep this remarkable service on the road.
Help keep this vital, life-saving service on the road by supporting Yeovil Freewheelers Blood Bikes. Every contribution makes a difference to patients and communities across Somerset and Dorset. Visit www.yfwbloodbikes.org to find out how you can help!
Category: Charity Committee
Published On 13th Oct 2026
