People across Pretoria could do their part for charity at the Blood Drive at Kolonnade Shopping Centre on Saturday.
Mr. SA, John Owens, also showed his support for the Blood Drive, by getting Mr. SA 2014 finalists, Arauna Louw and Johnn Herbst, to donate blood.
“Unfortunately I donated blood less than three weeks ago, therefore I could not donate today. But I believe that donating blood is a very good way to contribute to South Africa and those in dire need of blood transfusions,” Owens said.
For a few of the people at the Blood Drive, it was the first time that they were donating blood.
Mr. SA finalist, Herbst, was not too nervous about the experience.
“It is my first time donating, but I’m not really scared. It’s just something new for me and I was inspired by Mr. SA, John Owens, to do my part,” Herbst said.
Lucinda Erasmus (16) was also excited to donated for the first time.
“It is the first time I am donating, since I turned 16 fairly recently. I am donating because my mother, who really wants to donate as well, cannot, due to medical reasons,” Lucinda said.
Other donors had more personal reasons to donate blood.
According to Mariaan Kirstein, her son had been in a car accident several years earlier and had needed blood transfusions every three days while in hospital. Since then, she has donated blood regularly.
Monique Jansen van Vuuren said that her grandmother had cancer and also needed blood transfusions.
“I want to be able to help her and others who need blood,” Jansen van Vuuren said.
The Blood Drive also brought to light the struggle of one specific boy, Jordan Pelser (3), who suffers from Burkitt’s Leukemia.
Several donors specifically attended the Blood Drive to help Pelser’s cause.
The Blood Drive even had a veteran donor who attended.
According to George Fevrier, he has donated blood exactly 74 times.
“Donating blood is important because it helps people, so I ask you: Why not?” Fevrier said.
“Donating blood is important because it helps people, so I ask you: Why not?” Fevrier said.
