World Blood Donor Day 2011 - Tuesday 14th June

The New Zealand Blood Service will celebrate World Blood Donor Day across the country and they need your help!

Blood Donors Save the Day

The New Zealand Blood Service (NZBS) will celebrate World Blood Donor Day across the country on Tuesday 14 June 2011.

Many impacted by leukaemia will be familiar with the life-saving power of blood donations and blood products.  World Blood Donor Day is our chance to thank these everyday heroes for their voluntary blood donations and an important opportunity to encourage more people to donate and save lives.

This year's theme 'Blood Donors Save the Day' is both a salute to existing donors and a request for eligible New Zealanders to choose just one day in the year ahead to commit to making a blood donation.

NZBS has a constant need for new and committed blood donors to contribute to the 3,000 donations required every week and in order to keep pace with annual donor turnover of approximately 20,000 people.  While current donors help save the lives of more then 42,000 New Zealanders every year, only around 4% of the eligible population are active donors.

For World Blood Donor Day please:

• Register to donate if you are eligible (appointments can also be made up to three months in advance).  Call 0800 GIVE BLOOD or visit www.nzblood.co.nz for more information.
• If you, a family member or friend has benefited from donated blood, share your story with others and encourage them to donate.
• Share your story with us and New Zealand - NZBS is also looking for real-life stories to generate wider awareness through the media.  If you'd like to support NZBS with your story, please contact Paul Hayes, Marketing and Communications Manager at NZ Blood Service paul.hayes@nzblood.co.nz or 0275 650 556.