Blood Donors Can Be Heroes, For More Than One Day

Blood Donors Can Be Heroes, For More Than One Day

LONDON, June 14, 2013 /PRNewswire/ --



Bowie-inspired poster appeals for donors to 'come back'


during National Blood Week (10-16 June 2013)



To help halt a decline in regular blood donors NHS Blood and Transplant is appealing
for people to 'come back' and register to donate during this year's National Blood Week,
with a new celebrity poster campaign inspired by this year's come-back king David Bowie.



(Photo:
http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20130613/621706-a )




(Photo:
http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20130613/621706-b )




Actresses Claire Sweeney, Dawn Steele, Wendi Peters and Pooja Shah have all re-created
Bowie's iconic Aladdin Sane album shot* to encourage people to 'come back' and register.



Each celebrity has a personal connection to blood donation. Claire's brother and
Wendi's husband are both alive due to blood transfusions, Dawn received one after the
birth of her daughter and Pooja has been a regular donor for years.



Claire Sweeney said: "My brother's still here today thanks to a blood transfusion so I
know how important it is. Giving blood saves lives - you really can be a hero, for more
than one day. So if you haven't donated for a while or ever before do consider coming
forward to register."



Over the last decade the number of regular donors has fallen by almost a quarter
(23%). The decline has been highest among people in their 30s, with a 48% drop. Lack of
time is a barrier to donation for 9% of people, and for more than one in ten (11%)** not
knowing what's involved has stopped them from donating.



Jon Latham, Assistant Director of Marketing at NHS Blood and Transplant, said: "For
this year's National Blood Week, we're asking people to come back and give blood. We need
a steady supply of blood, which has a short shelf life, to help save and improve patient
lives. To achieve this we need a large group of regular donors, so we hope David Bowie
isn't the only one making a welcome return this summer."



Anyone aged between 17-65, weighing more than 50kg (7st 12lbs) and in general good
health could potentially start saving lives by becoming a blood donor. There is no upper
age limit for donors who have donated in last two years.



For more information or to book an appointment visit http://www.blood.co.uk or
call 0300-123-23-23.



* Album cover shot by photographer and film producer Brian Duffy



** ICM research May 2011



For more information or to speak to a case study blood donor or recipient or a
relevant spokesperson, please contact the NHSBT team at The Red Consultancy:
nhsbloodteam@redconsultancy.com / +44-(0)20-7025-6500






Photo:
http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20130613/621706-a



http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20130613/621706-b


Photo:http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20130613/621706-a
http://photoarchive.ap.org/
Photo:http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20130613/621706-b
http://photoarchive.ap.org/
NHS Blood & Transplant (NHSBT)


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