SPRING Day is on Friday, September 1, and what better way to celebrate it than to give the gift of life?
Charlie Anderson, chairman of the South African National Blood Service (SANBS) Highway Donor Committee, has pledged succulent plants to the first 20 donors at Hillcrest SANBS on Friday.
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He will also give 50 plants to the donors at Watercrest Mall on Saturday, September 2.
Anderson said this is his way of encouraging people to donate and to show appreciation to the donors.
“It is a start of the new season – it means new growth, new life, new potential, and most importantly, we’re hoping for new donors to come forward,” he said.
The Cliffdale resident said he started donating blood in his late teens at his workplace, and it became a norm.
“I stopped for a few years after getting married and having children, but I have been back as a regular donor for almost 20 years now,” he said.
He said that to date, he has made 320 donations and also donated platelets and plasma.
Anderson said what keeps him committed to donating is the questionnaire that one has to fill out.
“It encourages me to lead a healthy lifestyle – the beauty of it is that one donation can save three lives.”
He said it is reassuring to know that people’s lives are saved by sparing a few minutes of your time to donate blood.
Recalling one of his highlights, Anderson said there was an urgent need for platelets for a cancer patient who was going for an operation.
“I was donating platelets at that time, and we were a perfect match. That made me realise that I should continue donating and getting other people on board.”
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Anderson encouraged people to donate and not be sceptical about it.
“There is no harm in trying; it is an easy process, and it is the right thing to do,” he said with a confident smile.
Giving more insight, Anderson said plasma is the liquid part of the blood, in which the red and white blood cells and platelets are suspended, making up roughly 55% of the volume. Factors found in plasma are made into medicinal products used to treat rare chronic diseases and disorders and cases of burns, trauma and shock.
“Platelets are cell fragments in the blood, which collect at an injury site to prevent bleeding. Platelets are used in treatments for some cancers, marrow and organ transplants, surgery, trauma and aplastic anaemia.
“Anyone can donate blood if they are heavier than 50kg, between 16 and 65, in good health, lead a low-risk lifestyle and have eaten in the previous four hours,” he added.
To find your nearest blood donor centre, contact 0800 11 9031.
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