Blacktown City Council wins Councils Blood Challenge for 2020

Published on 28 October 2020

Blacktown City Council has been named the Councils Blood Challenge champion for 2020.

Following a ‘bloody’ good effort from Council staff and the local community with a whopping total of 450 donations, Blacktown City Council took out the top honour for the 3rd year in a row.

Of the 450 donations, there were 127 whole blood, 294 plasma and 29 platelets donations, helping to save an incredible 1,350 lives.

The Councils Blood Challenge is an initiative of the Australian Red Cross Lifeblood which runs annually between July and September.

Blacktown City Council has a strong history in the challenge, being ranked first in Australia in 2019 after an amazing 478 donations were made by staff and the community.

Mayor of Blacktown City, Tony Bleasdale OAM, congratulated all involved for the tremendous, life-giving result.

“I am so proud to see Council staff and residents of our great City coming together for such a great cause,” Mayor Bleasdale said.

“What a wonderful demonstration of our shared commitment to helping those most in need – a goal which is even more important during this difficult time.

“While 1 in 3 Australians will need blood donations at least once in their lives, only 1 in 30 donate.

“I hope this phenomenal effort will spread further and embolden others in the community to consider donating blood, perhaps for the first time.

“I would encourage anyone in Blacktown City who is interested in donating, and in saving 3 lives in the process, to book an appointment today.”

Mayor Bleasdale also congratulated Tamworth Regional Council for recording the most plasma donations, Glen Eira City Council for recording the highest number of new donors, and Ballina Shire Council and Glen Eira City Council for recording the highest year on year growth.

To view the results of the Councils Blood Challenge for 2020 visit https://www.donateblood.com.au/lifeblood-teams/councils.

To make an appointment to donate visit www.donateblood.com.au.

Photo: Mayor of Blacktown City, OAM, with the Australian Red Cross Lifeblood mascot Billy the Blood Drop.