The National Blood service is looking for more blood donors. If you're able and willing to give blood go along to :

> Denshaw Community Hall, Ripponden Road
> Thursday December 20th
> 1.30 - 3.30 & 5.30 - 7.30pm

40 HOURS CHRISTMAS SHOPPING – 1 HOUR TO SAVE A LIFE!
National Blood Service launches the Countdown to Christmas

Members of the public in Delph and Denshaw are being asked to help save lives during the festive season as the National Blood Service launches its ‘Countdown to Christmas’ appeal.

In the UK, on average, we spend well over a full working week preparing for Christmas. This includes 40 hours shopping, 4 hours wrapping presents and 3 hours decorating the house. Preparing Christmas dinner takes around 4 hours, and we take at least another 2 hours to eat it. Even tidying up after dinner takes more than 11 hours*!

It’s easy to see how giving blood slips off the Christmas ‘to do’ list, but by giving up just one hour of your day and making that vital donation, you could save up to three lives. It’s easy to make an appointment today by calling 0845 7 711 711 whilst there’s still plenty of time left before the festivities begin. And unlike the rest of Christmas, it won’t cost you a penny!

It’s crucial that we have enough blood to tide us over the Christmas and New Year bank holidays. However during December it becomes harder to build up stocks. Winter illnesses such as colds and flu mean a donation must be postponed and with people busy visiting friends and family, or going away on holiday, blood donation can fall by as much as 10%. This makes it a real challenge to get blood banks well stocked by Christmas Eve.

Only 4% of the eligible UK population gives blood yet the National Blood Service needs to collect around 1,300 donations every week to make sure that patients in hospitals across the area are able to receive the life saving treatments they require.

A blood donation session will take place in Denshaw at the Community Hall, Ripponden Road on Thursday December 20 between 1.30pm and 3.30pm & 5.30 to 7.30pm.

If you are aged between 17 - 60 years of age, in general good health and weigh over 7st 12lbs you could support the campaign, just call the donor helpline to find out more.

Ring the National Donor Helpline on 0845 7 711711 (open 24hrs) or visit www.blood.co.uk to register your details, book an appointment or find venues and times for alternative blood donation sessions in the area.