8 October 2020
Warrant Officer Shane Grist is well on his way to his goal of 100 donations to Australian Red Cross Lifeblood.
Warrant Officer Grist, of Combat Survival Training School, donated for the 55th time on September 9 during this year's Defence Blood Challenge.
He first donated 20 years ago at a mobile donation van at RAAF Base Amberley.
Even though he has been donating for many years, Warrant Officer Grist now has a more personal motivation to reach his goal.
“I was grateful for other donors at the beginning of this year because my daughter’s partner was in a severe motor vehicle accident and if it wasn’t for the actions of those first responders and the vital blood products he required, the outcome would have been very different,” Warrant Officer Grist said.
He said he had recently changed to donating plasma.
“Plasma helps lots of people when they need it most – cancer patients following chemotherapy, people with liver and kidney disorders and treating severe burns, just to name a few,” Warrant Officer Grist said.
“It seems as though there are fewer people donating but blood donation is an essential service so the need for regular donations remains.
“It feels good to do something so simple that can have a major effect on someone’s life.”
To book your appointment, call Australian Red Cross Lifeblood on 13 14 95, or visit https://www.donateblood.com.au/lifeblood-teams to see when and where you can donate.
