Join the Greatest Team in the World and Give Blood

Newcastle’s Life Science Centre has teamed up with NHS Blood and Transplant to show their support for the Greatest Team in the World and encourage people to sign up to give blood to help save lives. During this year’s National Blood Week (9^th to 15^th June), events will be taking place across the country to encourage people to get off the bench and join the Greatest Team in the World. There are always new places in the team available.  NHS Blood and Transplant needs around 200,000 new blood donors each year across England and North Wales to replace the team members who can no longer donate due to reasons such as ill health, pregnancy or foreign travel. Representatives from NHS Blood and Transplant were at Life on Wednesday 11 June where they chatted with visitors in the Centre’s BODY WORLDS Vital exhibition. Donna Batty, Lead Donor Relations Manager for Newcastle said: “The number of new donors we need this year would more than fill the three stadiums England will play in for their three group games at the Football World Cup. Getting behind your team can feel really special.  So can donating blood. Knowing that you’re saving and improving lives.” There is also a need for more young donors and Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic (BAME) donors to ensure we can continue to meet the needs of all patients now and in the years to come. Nearly half of those who have given blood over the last two years are over 45. And only 4% of our active blood donors are from BAME communities, while they represent around 14% of the population. Ian Simmons, Director of Science Communication at Life, said: “We thrilled to be involved in National Blood Week.  Our current exhibition BODY WORLDS Vital celebrates the living human body in its optimal state - healthy, vibrant, vigorous, and features real human bodies preserved through plastination.  Indeed, research undertaken by BODY WORLDS has shown that having visited the exhibition, 36% of visitors who had no previously declared themselves as organ donors would do so after visiting the exhibition.* Donna Batty added: “To have the support of the Life Science Centre is terrific and we hope having seen BODY WORLDS Vital, they are inspired to sign up.” In general, as long as you are fit and healthy, weigh over 7 stone 12 lbs (50kg) and are aged between 17 and 66 (up to 70 if you have given blood before) you should be able to give blood. If you are over 70, you need to have given blood in the last two years to continue donating. For more information or to book an appointment visit www.blood.co.uk or call 0300 123 23 23.