Cú Chulainn Blood Bikes are an entirely voluntary organisation providing a literally life-changing service to hospitals and health centres across Monaghan, Louth, Cavan, Meath and beyond. They transport blood samples, covid samples, breast milk for premature babies, medical supplies and bloods for terminally ill children, completely free-of-charge, 7 days a week, 24/7 on weekends and bank holidays – taking a massive amount of strain off both the medical facilities and the end patients and their families.

Cú Chulainn fundraise to buy and maintain the fleet of vehicles they have, and as well as local benefactors who are all too aware of the outstanding service this organisation provides several communities, Cú Chulainn also applied for and were award Good Causes funding last year which enabled them upgrade one of their older motorbikes, vital for the speedy delivery of essential care to vulnerable patients.

The National Lottery Good Causes are all about supporting people and communities who effect positive change around them, for no reward other than knowing it needed to be done and they could do it. We are blessed to have worked with several organisations who embody this philosophy, and we are proud to number Cú Chulainn Blood Bikes amongst them.

In the course of a family crisis Derek Duffy realised that a speedy motorcycle would have delivered needed blood to a nearby hospital in double quick time. And he had just such a bike. But now, thanks to his insight and doggedness, there is a group of volunteer bikers, formally registered as a charity, who collect and transport blood, blood products, human tissue, patient information and infant milk to hospitals throughout the North East – wherever and whenever it’s needed. What’s more, they’ve shown how it can be done throughout the entire country. This unique organisation, Cú Chulainn Blood Bikes, is the National Lottery’s Good Cause of the Year.