EVERY two weeks for the past three years, Kingsley resident Sandi Anastasiu has given the gift of life.
However, this festive season, more than 200 people are still needed to donate blood in Edgewater to prevent a shortage of blood products vital for cancer patients.
With many people busy with Christmas shopping and holidays, the Australian Red Cross Blood Service is concerned about a drop in donor numbers in the two weeks either side of Christmas.
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Blood Service spokeswoman Jessica Willet said the Christmas Blood Blitz aimed to help fill Edgewater Blood Donor Centre’s 200 empty appointments between December 19 and January 2.
“With only five people booked in to donate blood at Edgewater on Boxing Day, we really need more people from the community to roll up their sleeves this Christmas,” she said.
“Cancer patients are the biggest users of donated blood and rely on platelets to make it through chemotherapy.
“The problem is, platelets cannot be stock-piled, so we need a constant fresh supply as anything collected before Christmas Eve will have expired or run-out long before New Year’s Eve.
“With WA alone set to spend $5.3 billion leading up to Christmas, the greatest gift of all will cost you just an hour of your time and could help to save three lives.”
Edgewater Blood Donor Centre is open Monday to Friday over the Christmas break, including the public holidays.
To make an appointment, call 13 14 95 or visit www.donateblood.com.au.