Saturday, 29 May 2010
Step 4: Get Art
Step 3: Tell me about it
Step 1: Give Blood
England and North Wales: http://www.blood.co.uk/
In some cities there are drop-in blood centres that you can visit: http://www.blood.co.uk/giving-blood/where-can-i-go/blood-centres/ (incl. Leeds, Bradford and Sheffield)
South, West and Mid Wales: http://www.welsh-blood.org.uk/
Scotland: http://www.scotblood.co.uk/
Northern Ireland: http://www.nibts.org/
Ireland: http://www.giveblood.ie/
America: http://www.americasblood.org/
Canada: http://www.blood.ca/
Australia: http://www.donateblood.com.au/
Anywhere else: type 'give blood' and the name of your country into Google and away you go!
Friday, 28 May 2010
Why so bloodthirsty?
Whether we fall by ambition, blood, or lust, like diamonds we are cut with our own dust, originally uploaded by creating in the dark.
In the spirit of sharing I am going to tell you something shameful ... The last time I gave blood was about 10 years ago ... at least ... (where the heck does the time go?!!). At the beginning of May I decided that enough was enough, I swallowed my shame and took myself along to a local blood donor session. This story should end with me saying how lovely and understanding the nurses were (true) and how I skipped off home with my head held high, one pint of blood poorer but one cup of tea and one biscuit richer ... unfortunately I was in for a bit of a nasty surprise - my blood count was too low for me to donate so I skulked off back home without my free biscuit and without the feeling that I had done something amazing
It turns out that I'm anaemic ... nothing serious but I won't be able to give blood for another year :( ... I've come up with an idea to encourage you folks out there to give blood on my behalf. It's simple ... go and give blood ... come back and tell me about it ... I'll send you a little hand-drawn doodle (a 'bloodle'!) to thank you for being awesome!
A few of you might be thinking 'Dang! I'd love to get my hands on a doodle but I can't give blood ... boo! not fair!' ... worry not! If you can persuade someone you know to give blood then I'll send you both a doodle ... happy days!
I've had a go at creating a form for you to fill in once you've given blood (or once the person you've persuaded has given blood) ... I'm not going to put an expiry date on this offer (it took me 10 years to get round to going after all!) but obviously if everyone steps up to the plate and gives blood then I might need to have a re-think :) ... but for now, go forth and do something amazing! {beaming in anticipation of how proud you're going to make me}
#########Update#########
In December last year I had major (but completely routine) surgery to fix the underlying problem that was caused my anaemia. Following the operation I spent 5 hours in the recovery room where the brilliant NHS staff quietly monitored how much blood I had lost and then calmly gave me a blood transfusion to speed up my recovery from surgery. It was all completely undramatic and there was never the slightest threat to my life but it does mean that I can't give blood for the rest of my life (unless the restrictions are lifted in the future).
In my mind it's very simple. You never know when you or someone you care about might need a blood transfusion. Once you have one then you can't repay the kindness of the complete strangers who make that blood transfusion possible. You need to pay it forward in advance. And you get to feel like a superhero. If you can then give blood and save lives. Be part of the 5% of the population who donate, not the 95% who find a reason not to. It really is that simple. If you can't give blood then persuade people you know to give blood. I'll send both of you art.
