Blood Bikers - documentary production highlighting a vital service

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Blood bikers are in many ways the unsung heroes – riders who help the NHS to save funding by couriering medical supplies around the country



This short documentary by the highly talented filmmakers Sarah Whitehead, David Hayes and Alex Brooke gives us an insight into these brave life savers through the eyes of the people giving up their time.

Contra have a long history of supporting positive causes and when Director David Hayes approached us with this story, we were thrilled. We were excited about the prospect of supporting a group of selfless individuals and telling a story in a powerful and heartfelt documentary.

Sarah Whitehead first got in touch with the group whilst writing an article for The Guardian back in 2014:

‘For a long time I would see the occasional motorcyclist going down the motorway or waiting in a service station and there would be a box on the back of their bike. When I heard about what they did and how huge the blood network was I couldn't believe how long I had gone without understanding the role they play for our community. Now I work in a hospital and I can see first hand how essential they are for the day to day existence of the NHS and I hope other people can now see this too.’

David Hayes said:

‘As soon as we started meeting these people we realised that we weren’t dealing with a traditional stereotypes of what a biker might look like! These were everyday people, often with day jobs, giving up their free time for different reasons. What struck us most was the humility. They aren’t expecting a pat on the back for this. They do it to give something back which is both humbling and inspiring.’

John Jeanes said:

‘The first time I went through the rushes what struck me was how different these people were to what I was expecting. With them doing such an extraordinary thing I found myself surprised to see such normal people. These are people who, during the day, could easily be your neighbor, your bus driver or even you yourself. For me, this is the aspect of the story that is the most powerful, and so it was important for the film to show their incredible endeavor, but at the same time trying to retain their human side. Striking this balance was the focus throughout the edit and became the main factor in shaping the final film.’


The shoot took place over nearly two years as the team looked to get access to a variety of different people and places. From the dark streets of South London to the spectacular hills of the Lake District in Cumbria; the Blood Bikers travel everywhere, so the crew followed. The result is a moving tribute to the dedication of these riders and an insight into the benefits of volunteering.

The film was produced in association with Contra, a video production company in London

Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/BloodBikersfilm/

Blood Biker’s Website: http://www.bloodbikes.org.uk/

Director’s Website: www.davidhayesfilm.com