Super donors urge others to help save lives

One of only 10 people in England to have given their blood, stem cells, platelets and plasma since 2005 said the small act could make a "big difference to lives".

"Super donor" Anthony Robson from Stockton said he was inspired to become a donor when he was 18 because of his mother who used to give blood as "part of a routine".

The 33-year-old said giving regularly was "rewarding", gave him a sense of "achievement" and he urged others to sign up.

Earlier this year NHS Blood and Transplant (NHSBT), said that the number of regular donors needed to rise from around 800,000 to more than one million to maintain a safe and reliable supply.

Mr Robson said that health workers at donor centres made giving blood as comfortable as possible, especially for those who had never done it before.

"The little act can make such a big difference," he said.

Just two per cent of the population keep the nation's blood stocks afloat by donating regularly, NHSBT said.

Andrew Bruce, 58, a fire safety adviser from West Auckland in County Durham, is a super donors who donates blood, stem cells, plasma and platelets.

He said he was almost at his 99th donation and that even though stem cell donation was painful he would "definitely do it again".

"It's a few hours of pain to give someone the chance of life or to extend their life," he said.

Plasma donations, used to create immunoglobulin medicines, only take about 30 to 40 minutes and Mr Bruce said the experience was not "unpleasant".

"It's really easy to do and there is a real need out there for more donors." he added.

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