Michael Morris with his thank you gift from Wagga’s Red Cross Lifeblood for donating 250 times. Photo: Marguerite McKinnon.
Michael Morris is such a prolific blood and plasma donor that by the time Red Cross Lifeblood handed him his 250 donations badge when he walked into Wagga’s Berry Street donation centre on Thursday evening (11 June), he was nearing the next milestone.
“I did 250 earlier this year, so I’m up to about 259 I think it is today,” Mr Morris said.
“It was blood [donation] in the early days. I started donating in the 80s actually, then I switched to plasma when I moved to Wagga. And now I travel more but it means I can still donate plasma, as with blood you’ve got to wait a bit longer [between donations].
“Everyone’s really friendly here and I get the milkshake. My favourite flavour is vanilla malt.”
Troy Ryan (front) and Blake Thompson roll up their sleeves, with Red Cross Life Blood team member Amira, during National Blood Donor Week. Photo: Marguerite McKinnon.
Another donor, Wagga man Troy Ryan was in the chair for his 17th donation.
“Do it. It’s easy. It helps the community, the team here is lovely, and the chocolate milkshakes are great,” Mr Ryan said.
National Blood Donor Week celebrates Australia’s half a million donors whose generosity allows 75,000 blood and plasma treatments to be given to children in Australia each year.
Whether a child is living with an immune condition, undergoing cancer treatment, or recovering from trauma, blood donation is the reason these lifesaving treatments are possible.
Add adults into the equation and Australia requires more than 1.7 million blood donations every year to meet hospital demands. That’s one donation needed every 18 seconds.
Wagga’s Lifeblood manager Neil Wright said National Blood Donor Week celebrated the wonderful gift of life that donors freely gave to the community, and until 19 July, all donors will receive a special thank you bandage designed by children who have needed blood donations to live.
“A little special bandage is applied to donors over these next few weeks designed with the help of children who were patients from the children’s hospital,” he said.
From now until 19 July donors will be given bright bandages featuring designs by children who’ve needed blood donations to live. Photo: Marguerite McKinnon.
Every donation can save up to three lives, with cancer patients being the largest recipient group, accounting for more than one-third of all blood products.
While the Wagga Wagga branch is achieving donation targets, Lifeblood is seeking new and existing O Group donors to roll up their sleeves.
“Leading into winter we need all the donors we can to help support the patients in Australian hospitals. Remember only an hour of your time can save lives,” Neil said.
The Berry Street donation centre is also undergoing major renovations but that won’t stop any donations from being taken.
“The exciting full centre refurbishment is occurring in stages over the next three months,” Neil said.
”A new modern open plan design will make it really lovely for the staff and donors. Drop in and see the progress.”
Wagga’s Red Cross Lifeblood team members Amira (left) and Tracie with their new look uniforms in National Blood Donor Week. Photo: Marguerite McKinnon.
Call 131 495 for information on blood donations or to book an appointment or visit the website lifeblood.com.au
