A medical emergency close to home was the catalyst for a group of community-minded motorcycle enthusiasts to donate blood.
Five members of the Waihī-Thames Valley Ulysses Motorcycle Club were lined up at the Thames Civic Centre on October 13, where a mobile NZ Blood Service team had set up their station.
Club member Chris Good said he first ran the idea past his club mates several months ago.
“My wife had just had open-heart surgery in Hamilton and I was in my car to go and see her,” he said.
“The advert on the radio [was] saying, ‘Are you part of a group? Have a think about turning up and giving blood.’ And I thought, well, I’m in a group and most of us look pretty healthy.”
He said the club also supports other charitable organisations such as the Westpac Rescue Helicopter.
“Obviously we’re motorcyclists and it’s a dangerous sort of thing and you never know when [help] might be needed. So it’s just paying it forward, really.”
Club president Chris Brown said the idea was a great cause, and giving back to the community fitted right in with Ulysses MC’s ethos.
“Unfortunately, there’s a lot of motorcycle accidents, and if we can do something to give back, then this is well worth doing.”
It was the first time several of the members, including Chris Good, have given blood, and while they were a little nervous, they were all in good spirits, even posing for a group photo with their bikes before they left.
“I’ve not been allowed to give blood up until very recently,” club member Peter Woodford, originally from the UK, said.
“And being a motorcyclist I’ve been wanting to give blood for years, so I’m finally in the position that I can.”
Chris Good’s wife, who is recovering well from her surgery, was also there to offer support.
NZ Blood Service donor relations co-ordinator Scott Pearce said the service encouraged groups to donate together.
“[We’re] reaching out to workplaces to become what we call ‘Team Reds’… It’s always a lot more fun, especially if it’s your first time, to come with people you know,” he said.
“The need for blood and plasma isn’t diminishing – we’ve still got less than four per cent of the eligible population donating.
“It’s a good way [for organisations] to show that they give back to the community. And every time that we come to Thames we get so well-supported from the community. It’s a place that our team loves coming to.”
