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This article was published on Thursday, 10 December, 2015. The information contained within may be out of date or inaccurate. News articles and media releases older than 60 days are archived for future reference.

Give the gift of life this Christmas with the Red Cross

Posted on Thursday 10th of December, 2015,

Earlier this week, Greater Shepparton City Council’s Welsford Street Office received some special visitors – Shae, the Red Cross Community Relations Officer and Santa Billy, the Red Cross mascot.

They toured the office to promote blood donations in the lead up to Christmas, and signed up 19 new donors.

In 2015, Council staff have made 136 blood donations, helping save 408 lives.

To make an appointment CLICK TO DonateBlood.com.au

Local ‘Blood Blitz’ to curb Christmas and New Year shortage

Shepparton still needs more than 60 blood donations between Christmas and New Year in order to prevent a shortage of blood products vital to the treatment of cancer patients.

Shepparton donors are among the millions of Australians taking holidays, leading to a worrying drop in donor numbers, particularly on Christmas Eve and New Year’s Eve.

Yet the need for blood never stops, with one product vital to cancer treatment - platelets - having a shelf-life of just five days, meaning cancer patients need a constant supply throughout the festive season.

Spokesperson Shae Smith said the organisation was today launching its national Christmas and New Year 'Blood Blitz' to help fill the more than 60 appointments at Shepparton still needed between 24 December and 4 January.

"Thousands of Australians will need blood this Christmas and New Year just to have the hope of spending those moments with friends and family," 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 by Christmas Day will have expired or run-out early next week."

With one in three Australians needing blood or blood products in their lifetime, Mrs Smith said thousands more could also need blood during this critical period without yet realising it.

"If a friend or family member needed blood this festive season you'd expect blood to just 'be there'," she said.

"It will only be there, if others have made the generous decision to donate at these critical times. We need locals to respond to the Blood Blitz by rolling up their sleeves and making an appointment to give blood at Shepparton Donor Centre between 24 December and 4 January."