Cornwall Blood Bike Volunteers Are Winners

Just before Christmas Cornwall Blood Bikes were nominated in the Devon & Cornwall Police Awards.

The Devon & Cornwall Police Awards are organised to maximise the opportunities for Specials, volunteers and cadets to support local neighbourhoods in building strong and cohesive communities. These awards are to recognise and value the contribution volunteers make to support the delivery of both policing services and connectivity within the wider community.

It was quite a nomination process, in which all aspects of our charity had to be outlined, examples of stories with examples which demonstrated the outstanding nature of the nomination and how our charity helps the wider community.

At the beginning of April we were informed that we were through to the finals and then a confirmation e-mail arrived to say that the nomination submitted was considered by the Devon & Cornwall Police Award Panel and they were delighted to inform us that our team of Cornwall Blood Bikes had been awarded Highly Commended in the Community Spirit Category.

Because such a limited number could attend, then the opportunity was given for all Iron Butt Winners for the last 12 months to put their name into a hat to attend the evening on the 4th June at St Mellion International Resort, Saltash.

The evening saw ten attendees headed by our CBB Vice Chair Jayne Penlerick, Fundraising Manager & Rider Ian Butler, Fleet Manager John Penlerick, Membership Secretary & Rider Brendan Hale, Trustee & Rider Paul Thomas, Trustee & Rider Andy Bellamy, Rider Len McMurrow, Rider Brian Reynolds, and Rider Peter Wyper.

It was a fantastic evening where every aspect of public sector and police professionalism were celebrated from many “in house” awards honouring police support, police cadets, young volunteers, special constables, to the more public sector of the police & crime commissioners award, community spirit awards and the Chief Constables award.

Cornwall Blood Bikes sat and listened to the citation read out by Devon & Cornwall Police’s Superintendent Jacqui Hawley and our team were then invited up onto the stage to accept our award from Alison Hernandez, Devon & Cornwall’s Police & Crime Commissioner.

After the award ceremony we had chance to chat and mingle with all other attendees, and we were approached by the Chief Constable of Devon & Cornwall Police, Shaun Sawyer, who commended us all for our professionalism.

CBB were also highly commended for our riding standards and the standards shown at our dear friend Burt Reynolds funeral as we had the honour of escorting him on his final ride.

This award is for ALL our riders that ride in all winds and weathers, show such dedication and commitment with the ultimate professionalism, our advanced riders do not only do our charity CBB proud, but blood bikers up and down the country proud.

As a charity committee we cannot thank the riders enough for what they do and really going the extra mile, they make the charity what it is and without them we would have nothing.

This award is exactly why our moto will always say “Riding For Life” it demonstrates not only our pure commitment to our NHS partners but the dedicated professional high standard of riding displayed, and passion for promoting good road safety and a positive image of motorcycling at all times.