Melksham Lions Club is delighted to announce the successful completion of a two-year fundraising campaign that has raised an incredible £16,000 for the Freewheelers Blood Bike Service.

The funds will enable the charity to purchase a new blood bike, helping its dedicated volunteer riders continue their vital work transporting blood, medical samples, patient notes, X-rays, breast milk, and other essential supplies between hospitals across the South West.

Freewheelers provides this invaluable service free of charge to the NHS and relies entirely on volunteers. Every night, their riders help ensure that critical medical items reach where they are needed most, while also supporting local air ambulance bases.

This achievement is one that everyone at Melksham Lions Club is immensely proud of. What began as an idea from Lion and keen motorcyclist Simon White in 2024 grew into a club-wide mission that captured the imagination and support of our local community.

Over the past two years, funds have been raised through a variety of events and activities, including our popular Santa Float collections, Easter hamper raffles, car boot sales, and many other fundraising initiatives. Every donation, no matter how large or small, helped bring us closer to our goal.

Reaching £16,000 is a fantastic achievement and demonstrates what can be accomplished when a community comes together behind a worthwhile cause. We would like to thank everyone who supported the campaign, attended our events, volunteered their time, or made a donation.

A cheque presentation was held at a recent Lions meeting, and we look forward to seeing the new blood bike purchased and put into service.

While we are proud of the amount raised, we are even prouder of the difference it will make. Knowing that this bike will help support patients, hospitals, and emergency services across the region makes all the hard work worthwhile.

This is a wonderful example of Lions serving their community — and a reminder that together, we really can make a difference.

As Lions, we are proud to serve our community, and this project shows just how much can be achieved when people come together for a common cause.

To learn more about the fantastic work carried out by Freewheelers Blood Bikes, please visit their website:

Freewheelers Blood Bikes

Out and About from 2nd to 24th December 2018

Here he comes again, it’s Father Christmas! Our annual tour of Melksham with the now famous Christmas float is in the planning already. We aren’t able to tour the streets again this year but will be visiting several local outlets; take a look below to see our schedule. We look forward to seeing you all during the festive period; don’t forget to give Santa a wave (and maybe a mince pie…)

Santa’s Schedule (please also keep an eye on our Events page in case further dates and venues are added)

On Monday (26th March) an Easter Party and Egg hunt was hosted by Melksham Lions at the Kingsbury Square temporary accommodation hostel in Melksham

Thanks go out again to Dave Hickory – local Children’s Entertainer, Magician and Balloon Modeller who kindly gave up his time to keep the children entertained.

Also a big thanks to two “Friends of Lions” Rachel and Ralph who helped – a lot – with the Easter Egg Hunt

Well – that time of year is fast approaching again when I will be joining Melksham Lions to visit some of the Supermarkets in Melksham.

Regrettably, as last year, Melksham Lions are unable to escort me around local estates, so please come along to see me at the following venues.

Dates & times are as follows:

Dates for your diary are:

2nd December- we will be at Christmas Lights switch-on

3rd December – Leekes 1030am  – 4.00pm (Unfortunately CANCELLED due to illnesses)

9th/10th December – ASDA – 10am – 4pm

16th/17th December – Sainsbury’s – 10am – 4pm

23rd December – Co-operative Food (Blackmore Road) – 10am – 4pm

24th December – LIDL – 10am – 4pm