Army's blood donation drive begins
The Defence Organisation Blood Challenge is under way.
The annual event challenges personnel from Army, Navy, Air force and members of the Defence Public Service to compete to make the greatest number of blood donations.
Army blood ambassador Private Nathan Whittington, who lost his leg in a boating accident, said he understood the importance of blood for people with critical injuries.
The 20-year-old soldier said he was honoured to be selected as the ambassador of a life-saving cause as important as blood donation.
“I was pretty excited to be asked to be Army’s blood challenge ambassador,” Private Whittington said.
“After my accident I knew I could move forward because I had the support of the Army, my mates and my family.
“I was fortunate enough to not need blood and the doctors had blood there, ready, on standby, to support me if I needed it.”
For Private Whittington, supporting others is what the blood challenge is all about.
“Encouraging people to donate blood, providing support for others, because one day you or your mate or a family member might be one of the 27,000 other people in Australia who will need blood or blood products each week,” he said.
“I’d encourage everyone who can to donate blood––serving personnel, ex-personnel, families and friends––to step up for Army and contact the Red Cross and make a time to donate.”
People interested in having their donation count towards the challenge must have registered with Club Red.
“Just be sure to let the Red Cross know you would like your donation recorded for Army,” Private Whittington said.
“By doing this it will be added to Army’s donation total and hopefully help us tally more donations than our mates in Navy and Air Force.”
Personnel can take their donating to the next level and donate plasma or platelets every two weeks.
This will make six donations for Army during the challenge.
Let’s beat last year’s record and see how many lives we can save in 2012.
For more information about blood donation or to request an appointment visit www.donateblood.com.au or call the Blood Service on 13 14 95.