Blood challenge to save lives

Published on 06 July 2018

Blacktown City Mayor Stephen Bali MP is calling on residents to roll up their sleeves and donate blood as part of the annual Red Cross Red25 Council Blood Challenge.

The Councils Blood Challenge is run by the Australian Red Cross Blood Service and encourages staff and residents from local council areas to donate blood between July and September each year.  

Blood donations from NSW councils throughout this period are tallied against each other and the council with the most blood donations wins the challenge.

“Last year Blacktown City Council was acknowledged for gaining the most new blood donors amongst all councils, with 87 people donating. This year our goal is to aim for 100 donors,” Mayor Bali said.

“This is the third year Blacktown Council has participated in the challenge to help secure 25 per cent of Australia’s blood supply needs.

“I encourage and challenge everyone who is able to do their bit.

“Donating blood doesn’t take long and you could save three lives in the process.

“Our Council has won numerous awards for our parks, facilities, environment and arts programs, just to name a few.

“Taking out the Red Cross Council Blood Challenge with a life-saving cause at its heart would arguably be our proudest achievement yet.

“So come on everybody: roll up your sleeves, help us win this worthy challenge, and help save lives.”

The challenge is open to anyone who lives or works in Blacktown City, they simply need to ask for their donation to go towards Blacktown City Council’s tally when they arrive for their appointment. 

The mobile blood donor van will be a regular visitor at Blacktown, Rouse Hill, Minchinbury, Plumpton and Marsden Park from now through to September.

For more information on van locations and dates visit www.donateblood.com.au/donate#

Media contact:

Communications Unit, Blacktown City Council Martha Azzi – (02) 9839 5926 Robert Grieve – (02) 9839 6543 (phones divert to mobiles after hours) email:  [email protected]