We are very proud to announce that South Area Volunteer rider, Paul Duchemin has been awarded ‘Volunteer Of The Year’ in the Torbay’s Community Champions 2025 Awards.
Paul chosen was the worthy winner by the judges because amazing contribution to South West Blood Bikes and its free Blood Bike service that supports the NHS.The Torbay Communities website says’ of Paul…. Paul is a rider with South West Blood Bikes. Over the past year, he has volunteered his time to be on-call for Torbay Hospital more than any other volunteer within the charity’s South Team, responding to more than 300 urgent calls. He’s delivered more than 700 items, including whole blood & blood products, pathology and microbiology samples, donor breast milk (for prematurely born babies, which increases their chance of survival by 50%), medical records, medical equipment, test kits, and medications. Delivering medication to patients’ homes enables them to return home more quickly, freeing up a hospital bed for another patient.Paul joined the charity as an emergency volunteer rider in Oct 2021. Since then, he’s volunteered more than 5000 hours. He has doubtlessly saved lives moving urgent blood from Torbay Hospitals, the Blood Transfusion unit for the South Devon Dialysis Unit and other hospitals in Devon, riding in all weathers. Paul has also dedicated an additional 2000 hours to fundraising for the charity, which in turn has saved the NHS in Devon more than £400,000.Congratulations Paul, a truly well deserving winner! 
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