Continental Tyres Ireland has been named as the support vehicle tyre partner for Blood Bikes Leinster, the east coast chapter of the Nationwide Association of Blood Bikes.
Blood Bikes is a registered not-for-profit Irish charity established by local volunteers who look after the timely delivery of blood, breast milk and other time-sensitive material to hospitals and medical centres across the country. Depending totally on public donations and corporate sponsorship, the service is run free of charge to the medical bodies thanks to the legion of volunteer riders who give of their time freely for this life-saving service.
As support vehicle tyre partner to the service, Continental is supplying its award-winning tyres for use on the Blood Bikes support vehicles including a 4×4 jeep that enables the service to continue operating during even the most arduous of weather conditions.
Blood Bikes carry out this valuable service free of charge to hospitals ensuring that ambulances or Garda vehicles are not taken out of service and are kept where most needed.
When a hospital has an urgent need for blood, breast milk or other medical material, Blood Bikes with their distinctive livery and narrow profile can quickly negotiate through busy traffic reaching their destination much faster than a four wheel vehicle could. Breast milk transport is imperative for premature babies as they are unable to digest any other food source.
Fergus Lennon, Regional Coordinator of the Blood Bikes Leinster, said: “We are very appreciative of the partnership with the Continental Tyres Ireland team. The ‘Beast from the East’ cold snap that hit us this time last year showed us the value of having a four-wheel-drive vehicle as part of our team – it was quite literally a life-saver to have a vehicle with that ability. And now that it is shod with a new set of Continental’s award-winning 4x4Contact tyres, we are ready for anything that the weather can throw at us”.
Tom Dennigan of Continental Tyres Ireland said: “We are delighted to partner with Blood Bikes Leinster in support of their valuable work. As a biker myself, I know the commitment that is required of the Blood Bike volunteers, out in all weathers, delivering a truly life-saving service. The Blood Bike support vehicles are crucial to enabling that service and we are more than happy to provide our premium tyres for use on the vehicles. And thanks to our friends in Heffernan Tyres, Kildare Town, for looking after the fitting of the tyres.”