Students from universities across the region will compete in the Vampire Cup, a friendly cross-university competition to see which can donate the most blood and plasma during this year’s Health Services Blood Drive. Photo: Jarryd Rowley.
The first of April officially marked the beginning of the 2025 Health Services Blood Drive, in which Wagga’s healthcare professionals make a united effort to donate blood and plasma.
Wagga Lifeblood has called on local employers in healthcare services to come together and set a target that they hope to surpass.
“Last year Wagga Wagga healthcare staff donated blood and plasma over 400 times, and this year they have pledged to reach 500 donations,” Lifeblood spokesperson Mitch Bryce said.
“We know that in the coming months, many of our regular donors will be out with colds and flu, and we are thrilled to have our local healthcare workers step up to fill those appointments.
“We‘re confident they will reach that number and save even more lives this year.”
One of those looking to help Wagga’s health services meet their target is first-time donor and Aboriginal Maternal & Infant Health Services (AMIHS) health worker Indiana Johnson.
“I was a bit nervous coming here today, but it’s something I’m really passionate about,” she said.
“I don’t like needles, but I heard there were milkshakes at the end. While it wasn’t the only reason I agreed to come donate, it was a bonus,” she joked.
Ms Johnosn said it was important to raise awareness of the medical needs of Indigenous people and that donating blood was one thing she could do as part of AMIHS to help support that.
Separate from the health service’s goal of reaching 500 donations is a cross-university rivalry known as the Vampire Cup.
Medical students from Charles Sturt, Notre Dame and UNSW will be competing to donate as much blood as possible to claim bragging rights over their fellow institutes.
“We have a little interdisciplinary competition called the Vampire Cup, and it’s essentially just who can donate the most blood, and it’s a bit of a friendly competition to kind of support a really important cause,” Notre Dame student Hayden Ebbs said.
“It is an event all the students are happy to be a part of; hopefully we can beat out the CSU and UNSW guys.”
MLHD’s Blood Management Clinical Nurse Consultant Kristen Brown said healthcare professionals truly understood the life-changing benefits of donated blood and thanked participants for their commitment to the blood drive.
“As healthcare workers, we see patients every day who rely on donated blood or blood products for their health and wellbeing,” said Ms Brown.
“With one in three Australians needing blood and blood products in their lifetime, the life you save could one day be yours or that of a close friend or family member.
“This year, Lifeblood needs 100,000 extra people to become donors as hospital demand for blood and blood products hits new highs.
“Blood and plasma donations help save the lives of cancer patients, trauma victims, and women in childbirth. The need for plasma is at an all-time high and can be used in 18 different life-giving ways.”
To make an appointment to give blood call 13 14 95 or visit www.donateblood.com.au.
