By Nadia Turner
June is usually a time for staying indoors, under the covers but not for our amazing blood donors who braved the cold and helped to make Blood Donor Month a great success.
The slogan for World Blood Donor Day this year, which is celebrated annually on 14 June was, “Give blood and keep the world beating”. This message highlights the essential contribution blood donors make to keeping the world pulsating by saving lives and improving others’ health, with particular focus on encouraging the youth to donate blood.
In the lead up to World Blood Donor Day, our fantastic WCBS promoters took to the streets in and around Pinelands on 10 June, to create awareness for the never-ending need for safe blood. They grabbed the attention of motorists at the traffic lights on Forest Drive as well as at Sunrise Circle, dressed in lab coats and medical scrubs. Our loyal and dedicated blood donors did not disappoint and our blood donation clinic at St Stephens Church in Pinelands had a fantastic turnout that evening, with 131 donors attending and 112 full units of blood collected, way above the normal monthly collection average of the clinic which is around 33 units.
On World Blood Donor Day, all our donors received a packet of dried fruit flakes and a beautiful pair of warm Cape Town inspired socks, which form part of our winter campaign and will continue through July and August with other exciting designs.
In the midst of a pandemic, the continued support and dedication of our blood donors is truly remarkable. We would like to thank all our donors for continuing to save lives, not only during Blood Donor Month but throughout the year. We cannot do it without you.
