Number of people siging up to be blood donors increases after Derby Telegraph campaign

THE number of people signing up to become first-time blood donors in the city has already increased – just two weeks after the Derby Telegraph started its Save a Life campaign.

The paper has teamed up with NHS Blood and Transplant to find 500 new donors in Derbyshire in the run-up to Christmas, with stocks often low at this time of year.

And the organisation said that, in the past fortnight, 44 more people have signed up to give their blood for the first time in Derby than in the same period last year.

Sarah Edge, of donor relations for NHS Blood and Transplant, said this was a significant increase at this time of year. She also said all donor sessions in Derby during the same period had been meeting their targets for number of participants.

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Sarah said: "It's great to see people responding well to our efforts to find new donors and we're pleased the paper's campaign is working.

"Giving blood is always important but, at Christmas, it really takes on a new meaning because it is a gift – a gift that costs nothing but means everything."

Yesterday, the Derby Telegraph reported how NHS Blood and Transplant had launched its own Christmas appeal at Derby County Football Club's Moor Farm Training Ground.

At the event, donors dressed up as presents, because the appeal's theme is about giving the gift of life to those in need.

And members of NHS Blood and Transplant have since been in Derby city centre in the same fancy dress, in an attempt to recruit new donors.

Among those who signed up at the stall, in St Peter's Street, was Edvinas Surgont, 19, of Derby, who said: "I donated blood before when I lived in Lithuania. Now I want to donate here and help people who need blood."

And Grace Mpono, 21, who also lives in the city centre and is a photography student at the University of Derby, said: "I've always wanted to donate blood. It's nice to think that somewhere down the line I could potentially help save someone's life."