A dad-of-two who was one of the founding members of a charity that helps transport blood across Merseyside and Cheshire has died.
Gwyn Roberts, who was from Widnes but lived in Warrington, helped found the Merseyside and Cheshire Blood Bikes charity that helps the NHS deliver blood across the North West via motorbikes. The dad-of-two wanted to repay the NHS after they saved his son's life when he had measles when he was just a baby.
The former Navy leading steward left the forces when he had his first child, Francesca, in 1976 and then went on to have a son, Christopher, in 1978 who unfortunately became seriously ill with measles. Thanks to the work of Alder Hey, Christopher survived and Gwyn felt the need to give back following the close call. After working for Eddie Stobart he became one of the founding members of the Merseyside and Cheshire Blood Bikes charity.
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The charity, founded in 2012, helps Alder Hey Children's Hospital and Warrington and Halton Hospitals NHS Trust as more than 100 volunteers work together to ensure blood is safely transported. Francesca told the ECHO how her brother's brush with death led to her dad getting involved.
She said: "I was only very young at the time because I'm only two years older than him, Christopher had measles and he was very poorly. Alder Hey looked after him and saved his life, my dad always wanted to give something back from then onwards. He then went on to become one of the founding members of the Blood Bikes which combined his passion for motorbikes and his desire to give back to the NHS. He was always doing fundraisers. He was a good egg."
Gwyn died last week after a battle with prostate cancer that had spread across his body, but his 46-year-old daughter revealed that he was told he only had two years of his life left in 2015 and that he defied the odds by reaching the age of 74. Following his death, Gwyn's family are now appealing for people to take part in a last ride in his honour.
The waitress said: "He would absolutely love for as many bikes as we can possibly get to join him on his final journey. He had been a motorcycle rider for his whole life from the age of about 13. Please, if you can, join us on Wednesday, August 3 for his final ride.
"He will be leaving his home address at 14.30. The address is 14 Sandringham Drive, Great Sankey, Warrington, Cheshire, WA5 1JG. We will then be going to St Elphin's Church, Warrington for 3pm then on to Walton crematorium for 4pm."
To read more about the Merseyside and Cheshire Blood Bikes and to donate, click here.
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