Honours for dedicated Wirral blood donors (From Wirral Globe)
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Honours for dedicated Wirral blood donors
8:00am Sunday 10th February 2013 in News
The award-winning Wirral donors
A GROUP of dedicated Wirral blood donors has been recognised for rolling up their sleeves to help save lives.
They were honoured at a recent awards ceremony held by NHS Blood and Transplant (NHSBT).
Veronica Barrie, Ian Broadbent and Bernard Gajewski received a crystal award for an amazing 100 donations. Only 1% of all blood donors reach this milestone.
Jean Broster, Julia Clement, Vaughan Corbett, Robert Corlett, Judy Jones, David Lewtas, Janet Roberts, Jennifer Snowdon and Doreen Knox were presented with a crystal award after reaching the wonderful milestone of 75 donations.
Bernard Gajewski, 69, has been giving blood for over five decades.
The retiree from Upton said: "A donation session at work prompted me to start. I’ve known people who’ve needed blood, I’ve set targets throughout my giving, it is now 120.
"I love the idea that I can help someone who will never know it is me who has helped them. It's a charitable act which costs the donor nothing."
Jean Broster, 64, from Greasby, started giving blood when she was 17 or 18.
She said: "Originally it was so I could have a break from work, donation seemed to last longer in those days.
"Knowing that blood donation from me may help to save someone's life or at least make a better lifestyle for them.
"There is always a fear of the needle hurting and maybe feeling tired after giving but the satisfaction of knowing you may help another overrides fear."
The 12 donors were joined by others from across Merseyside and Cheshire for the awards ceremony at the Marriott Hotel in Liverpool.
They were presented with the awards by Bethan Guy.
The 28-year-old, from Liverpool, needed blood when she haemorrhaged during childbirth in November 2012.
Barbara Blanche, lead donor relations manager at NHSBT, said: "The dedication of all these donors is wonderful, we hope it inspires existing donors to keep giving regularly.
"New donors are also needed, especially young people, and we urge people to give it a try, each donation can potentially save three lives.
"This can be done quickly and easily by going to www.blood.co.uk or calling 0300 123 23 23."
