Drive to keep blood donations flowing

Former academic launches campaign to arrest deficit over festive season

Published:

APPEAL: Brian Cartwright . . . “Without blood donors, I simply would not survive.” Raymond Besant

A MEARNS man who has been kept alive by almost 100 blood transfusions has launched a campaign to stop blood donations slumping this winter.

Former lecturer Brian Cartwright, 69, who suffers from acute myeloid leukaemia, has thanked the 90 anonymous blood donors who have kept him alive since his diagnosis in 2004.

Mr Cartwright, of Luthermuir, near Laurencekirk, has come forward to help the Scottish National Blood Transfusion Service (SNBTS) battle what is known as the festive season “donor deficit”. Blood donations are predicted to fall by almost half over Christmas and New Year, prompting fears that there could be a critical shortage of blood.

Mr Cartwright said: “I was diagnosed in May 2004 with acute myeloid leukaemia and have had almost 90 blood products to date but more importantly will rely on blood donors for the rest of my life.

“My condition has gone into a couple of spells of remission over the last four years but unfortunately I am not suitable for a bone-marrow transplant, which means I continue to need regular transfusions to keep me well and active. I’ll most definitely need another two before Christmas Day. These transfusions give me energy, and help me feel normal again. Without blood donors, I simply would not survive. I am eternally grateful to whoever it was that took the time to donate the blood that I have had.”

Last Christmas donations dropped by 25% over Christmas and New Year. This year, with Christmas falling on a Thursday, the peak day for donations, SNBTS fears donations could drop even further.

Donor services manager Lynne Willdigg said: “We anticipate blood supplies could fall dramatically. We may lose up to 6,000 donations over the Christmas and New Year period, which is half of Scotland’s blood supply.”

To help meet demand this Christmas, SNBTS has written to 5,000 donors asking them to fulfil a “Christmas pledge” and commit to giving blood during the month of December.

To register as a blood donor or to find out where your nearest donation session is, call 0845 90 90 999, text ‘blood’ to 61611, or visit www.scotblood.co.uk