Broadbent and fellow first year player Matthew Martin joined staff from joint major sponsor Vodafone at the Red Cross Blood Centre’s Pirie St Donor Centre to donate blood for the first time.
Broadbent, whose blood has always run black, white and teal since supporting the club from childhood, said donating blood was something he had always wanted to do.
“It’s one of those things that’s always in the back of your mind,” he said, “so it’s good to finally go ahead and do it, and know you’ve helped people along the way."
One in three Australians will need blood at some point in their lives but only one in 30 people donate. Each donation can help save up to three lives.
Despite having never donated before, Broadbent had Blood Service staff raising their eyebrows when he comfortably watched the needle going into his arm to begin the donation.
“I just wanted to see what was happening,” he shrugged when staff commented that ‘no-one actually watches it’.
While not quite as willing to watch the action, Martin proudly proclaimed himself the winner on the day by filling his pint of blood inside seven minutes, just ahead of Broadbent.
The Power was there to support the Vodafone staff (including donors Kylie Markou and Rebecca Osborn), who, like the Power, are avid supporters of the Red Cross Blood Service. The Vodafone Foundation intends to help mobilise more Australians to donate blood in 2009, which is officially the Year of the Blood Donor. The Power has opened its doors to the blood service on three occasions, turning the gym into a mobile blood donor centre.
Following their good deed for the week, Broadbent and Martin are set to watch the action from the sidelines this weekend. Broadbent has a badly cut lip and Martin an AC joint injury but both expect to play for their SANFL clubs (Eagles and West respectively) in a week’s time.
And the verdict on donating blood? "It's a lot easier than you think it's going to be," Martin said, "and I didn't mind the free muffin and drink either. There was even a free shuttle bus to take you to your car!"
