World Blood Donor Day

The National Blood Service (NBS) of England & north Wales hosted World Blood Donor Day (WBDD) at 8 celebration events across the country.

A host of celebrities attended the events, which celebrated the lives that have been saved by the generous donation of blood from donors.

Heather fronted the national launch, attending herself at the London event. Being a recipient herself of a blood transfusion following an accident in 1993 involving a motorcycle, Heather expressed her gratitude to the strangers that change peoples lives.

The day provided a platform to communicate the need for internationally safe blood. The majority of the world’s population do not have access to safe blood. More than 80million units of blood are donated every year around the world but only 38% is collected in developing countries where 82% of the global population live.

Heather said "World Blood Donor Day is vitally important in this country & around the world to communicate to people about the need for blood. I know first hand about the importance of blood. It is because of the generosity of donors that I am here today to celebrate the day. The galleries are a fitting tribute to blood donors & the lives they have improved & saved. I'd like to say thank you to each & every one of them."

Please visit www.wbdd.org World Blood Donor Official Website.

www.blood.co.uk National Donor Website.

[Last Updated: 14th June 2005]