DONATING blood is one of the most important and rewarding things you can do, and Port Adelaide utility Paul Stewart is proud to advocate for more donors.
After all, its an issue close to his heart.
His family is all too familiar with how vital it is for people to give blood, after his sister Lisa was diagnosed with aplastic anaemia in September 2013.
It's a disease where the blood stem cells in your bone marrow are damaged, resulting in a deficiency of all four blood cell types.
She had a hard-fought battle against the life-threatening condition but it was the generously given blood of anonymous donors that ultimately saved her life.
“I had roughly 40 transfusions over a six month period which basically kept me alive,” Lisa says.
“I thank everyone that has ever donated.
“If I could shake the hands of those people, it would be amazing.”
Now in remission, she says she can’t praise the work of the Australian Red Cross Blood Service enough.
“If it wasn’t for the blood donations I honestly wouldn’t be here."
“It truly is life-saving.”
As a nurse, Ms Stewart says she knows how important blood can be in saving people’s lives and wishes she had given blood before her diagnosis.
“I saw patients receiving blood and I didn’t take the time out of my day to go and donate.
“I feel selfish but hopefully I’m making up for that now by getting people to donate.”
Younger brother Paul is also doing his bit to help the cause by supporting the Red Cross in their quest to gain even more donors.
He appeared alongside teammate Jesse Palmer and Australian Red Cross Blood Service mascot Billy the Blood Drop at the Port Canal Shopping Centre on Thursday to raise awareness for the cause.
Ms Stewart says unfortunately, there’s not enough blood to help everyone that needs it.
“One in 30 people donate and one in three need blood, so everyone knows someone who will need blood,” she said.
“It’s roughly an hour out of someone’s day and one unit can save three lives.
“It’s like saving a relative or friend in that one hour.”
It only takes an hour to donate blood. To make an appointment visit donateblood.com.au or call 131 495
