New Campaign asks 100,000 Australians to find their reason to donate blood and plasma

Australian Red Cross Lifeblood is calling for 100,000 people to become blood and plasma donors, as it launches a new campaign asking people to find their reason to give. 

With demand for blood at a 12-year-high and plasma demand at record levels, Lifeblood is urging 100,000 Australians – the same number of people who will fill the MCG for Saturday’s AFL Grand Final – to roll up their sleeves for the very first time. 

Just over 560,000 active donors currently maintain the blood and plasma supply for our population of almost 27 million, but new donors are crucial to continue to meet the growing nation’s needs.     

Lifeblood’s Executive Director of Donor Experience, Cath Stone said a new blood donor is needed every four minutes in Australia and our challenge is to get 100,000 new donors to have a reason to come through our doors in the next 12 months to prevent a donor shortage.  

“We know 100,000 people will show up if they have a compelling reason to do so, like cheering on their team at the MCG. We’re calling on 100,000 people to find their reason to show up to donate blood and plasma,” Cath said.  

“It might be for a family member battling cancer, to give a patient more time with their family, or it might simply be for the free party pies or the warm fuzzy feeling you get from helping save a stranger’s life.”  

High-profile Aussies, including comedian Dave Hughes and AFL premiership player Ben Brown and his wife Hester, have joined Lifeblood in calling on the community to find a reason to donate. 

For Hughesy, the joy of giving is the reason he donates as often as he can. 

“I'm O negative, so am a universal donor. It's great to know everyone can use my blood,” Hughes said. 

“It’s an easy, fun experience and the joy really is in the giving. I visit as often as I can.” 

For the Browns, Ben’s cousin Grace, and other cancer patients who rely on blood and plasma to survive, are inspiration for blood donation. 

“Grace has survived leukaemia twice, but her body is no longer capable of fighting infections or illnesses on its own,” said Ben.  

“Grace requires blood products weekly for the rest of her life, so we want to encourage others to be brave like her and roll up their sleeves to donate at Lifeblood. They can help Grace and others like her who need life-saving blood, plasma or platelet donations to survive,” he said. 

The call for 100,000 new donors comes as Lifeblood launches a new advertising campaign, highlighting the many personal and life-saving reasons people choose to donate, from supporting a family member, to enjoying some quiet time and a milkshake. 

Demand for blood has increased by 10 percent in the last four years, and demand for plasma in Australia and worldwide, is at an all-time high. In fact, Lifeblood now collects more plasma than blood, with donated plasma now used to treat more than 50 serious medical conditions. 

“We’re so grateful to our wonderful regular donors who give their time so freely and who are responsible for the bulk of our collections, but we know with our ageing population and advances in treatment options they can’t do it alone,” said Cath. 

“We estimate just three per cent of the eligible population in Australia currently donates, and that tells us there are a lot of reasons why people don’t donate. We’re asking people to find just one reason why they should.” 

As part of its search for 100,000 new donors, Lifeblood is asking Australians to visit www.lifeblood.com.au/life-is-the-reason and share their reason for donating blood or plasma. 

“I think we all have a reason to donate, we just might not realise it. The hub will give people a chance to learn about other people’s reasons for donating, share their own or find inspiration to become donors,” said Cath. 

Lifeblood will have a mobile donor centre outside the MCG from Wednesday, September 25 until Saturday, September 28 (Grand Final Day), as part of the official AFL Footy Festival.   

To make a donation, call 13 14 95, book online at lifeblood.com.au, or on the DonateBlood app.

View Lifeblood’s new “Life is the Reason” assets here.