Bikers pay funeral tribute to founder of Blood Bikes Manchester charity

Bikers took to the streets in Tameside to pay tribute to Paul Redfern, founder of the Blood Bikes Manchester charity who died following a two year battle with lung cancer.

Paul founded the group, which delivers emergency blood supplied to hospitals throughout Greater Manchester, after losing his right leg in a bike crash 26 years ago.

In 2020, he received a Pride of Manchester award for his work. Known as 'Red' to his pals, he died last month at the age of 53.

His fellow bikers and friends and family paid their respects on Paul's final ride from his Hyde home to a funeral service at Flowery Field Church and then to Dukinfield Crematorium.

Paul, 50, who lived just off Dukinfield Road in Hyde, led the volunteer-run organisation that helps save thousands of lives across the North West by transporting blood, plasma, platelets, vaccines and breast milk to nearly every hospital in the region.

Paul organised the group from home and they operate mostly at night, at weekends and through the holidays. 

The service is provided completely freeby the volunteers who all offer their time for no pay or reward, allowing the NHS to divert funds where they are most needed.

One year, Blood Bikes Manchester estimated that they saved local NHS and hospice services more than £340,000 after completing 18 emergency runs, 564 urgent runs and 680 non urgent and routine sample runs. They also link up with fellow blood bike groups across nearby counties.

Paul knows only too well how an urgent delivery of blood can mean the difference between life and death. 

When he was 18 he was involved in a serious motorbike accident and lost his right leg, his life only saved by an emergency blood transfusion.

Following his cancer diagnosis, Paul handed control of Blood Bikes Manchester over to trustees. Paul leaves behind his wife Tracy, 50 daughter Taryn, 29, and son Jayden, 27.