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As part of Louth Volunteer Centre's 26 of 26 project, we introduce you to Cú Chulainn Blood Bikes - a volunteer-run charity carrying life-saving medical items across Ireland's Northeast, day and night, 365 days a year.
Who is Cú Chulainn Blood Bikes?
When the phone rings in the middle of the night and a hospital needs something urgently, Cú Chulainn Blood Bikes is who they call. Their volunteers deliver blood samples, swabs, medical supplies, patient records and human milk for premature babies to hospitals in Louth, Meath, Monaghan and Cavan, and into County Fermanagh. It's completely free of charge, and often outside the hours when regular couriers are available.
They also support families facing cancer by collecting blood samples so that patients don't have to travel to hospital every week, and by delivering chemotherapy products. Every week, they also bring donated breast milk to hospital.
But Cú Chulainn Blood Bikes is more than a transport service. It's a charity powered entirely by volunteers and funded entirely by the public, with no government funding.
In Their Own Words
We spoke to one of the charity's volunteers about what makes it all work, and the answer was clear: without volunteers, there would be no charity.
Volunteers sign up on a weekly rota, so the controller always knows who is available when an emergency call comes in. Weekday cover runs from 7pm to 7am. At weekends, on bank holidays and even on Christmas Day, someone is ready around the clock. It's a commitment, but also a gift to the hospitals, families and patients who rely on it.
As the volunteer told us:
"We're delighted to support the HSE in everything we do, transporting medical equipment, blood samples, swabs, anything that's required for urgent analysis."
Other volunteers speak just as warmly about their time with the charity. Robert says no two runs are the same, but every one matters. Mark, who signed up in 2022 as a driver, is proud to be part of a service he had no idea was so wide-reaching until he joined.
Why It Matters
A box of blood samples, a cool bag of chemotherapy medication, a delivery of donated milk: these may look like small things, but for the person waiting on the other end, they can make all the difference. Each run means a diagnosis reached sooner, a treatment delivered on time, a family spared a journey. And by taking on these deliveries, volunteers free up ambulances and medical drivers for frontline care.
Get Involved
You don't need to ride a motorbike to make a difference. Cú Chulainn Blood Bikes is looking for riders and van drivers, but also phone controllers, rota leaders, social media managers, fundraisers, bucket collectors, treasurers, secretaries and event coordinators.
Most volunteers commit to just a few shifts a month, and it's designed to work around your life. Riders and van drivers need to be 25 or over, hold a full, clean licence for at least two years (A-class for riders, B-class for van drivers), and be Garda vetted before their first run.
The team at Cú Chulainn Blood Bikes would be delighted to help you find a role that suits you, whether that's on two wheels, behind the wheel of a van, or behind the scenes. Reach out and take the first step.
🌐 Find out more on their website: cuchulainnbloodbikes.ie/volunteer
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