ActionSA helps SANBS with set of brand new donors

Nothing gets the blood pumping like witnessing hope in action.

Blending a heartfelt love for community with ambitious messaging, ActionSA held a blood drive at the South African National Blood Service (SANBS) at Westgate Super Regional Mall, October 2. Blood is a precious resource and the need to pull every possible pint from the arms of donors can never be understated. Every drop counts as each donation has the potential to save three lives in either red blood cell, plasma or platelet form.

The Saturday morning haemoglobin haul was arranged by ActionSA’s Ward 85 candidate, Elmari Atterbury-Nell. “This is the purest form of giving. It costs nothing to give a little bit of yourself to help save lives. Our ethos is to serve selflessly and what better way to demonstrate that than by giving blood,” said Elmari, who had spent the rainy morning hours before with colleagues at intersections across Roodepoort promoting their campaign.

Just as with an untapped voter base at the polls, getting those who do not participate into the comfy donating chair for the first time is a common challenge. “Thank you to ActionSA for their positive actions they are taking. They have brought us brand new first time donors and that is very important to us. We have a great need for new donors, especially young donors, so it is great to see new blood coming through the door,” said SANBS Donor Centre Supervisor, Dawn Matsetela.

SANBS aims to collect 3 000 units of blood per day to ensure a safe and sufficient blood supply in the health care system and this requires the assistance of those willing and able. Steering South Africa on the path to prosperity also takes the combined efforts of a variety of people, and Elmari is throwing her hat into the ward councillor ring to play her part in stopping the country from flat-lining.