“All Blood Bikes have a name – this new machine is called ‘Spirit of Rotary’”. With these words Chair of the Rotary Clubs of Telford Trust Fund, Paul Booth unveiled the new BMW motorbike at Telford Town Centre on Saturday 5th May. Rotarian Paul continued, “ I was privileged to unveil the new Blood Bike, ‘Spirit of Rotary’, on its handover. Of all the many Rotary projects I have been involved in over the last 25 years, none has given me as much satisfaction. Blood Bikes do an incredible job for the whole community and the Telford Tree of Light is so pleased to have had the opportunity to fund this new bike.”
The motorbike was funded with 25% of the donations made to the 2017 Rotary Telford Tree of Light. Handing over the keys to Lynne Stone of Shropshire, Staffordshire and Cheshire Blood Bikes [SSBB], Chair of the Tree of Light organising committee Max Clowes said, “This donation to SSBB by the Rotary Telford Tree of Light has only been made possible thanks to the wonderful generosity of the people of Telford who donate to The Tree of Light to remember their loved ones at Christmas time.”
Lynne Stone expressed her thanks to the Tree of Light saying, “The Rotary Telford Tree of Light and the people of Telford have given us the means of transporting a variety of urgent medical items to our local NHS hospitals.
It has been a pleasure to work with the four Rotary Clubs towards our joint goal – ‘The Spirit of Rotary’”. 24hours later Lynne wrote, “Our thanks to you all for our new bike – she is lovely and already today she has clocked up over 60 miles, delivering samples to Royal Hospital Stoke.”
The Rotary Telford Tree of Light, which is run by the Rotary Clubs of Ironbridge, Telford Centre, The Wrekin and Wellington raised a record £43,040 for local charities during its 2017 campaign.
The event was attended by members of SSBB, The Town Centre management who allocate space for the Tree of Light at Christmas time, members of the public and Rotarians.