Don your superhero cape and join the Ospreys

On 14 June, countries worldwide celebrate World Blood Donor Day with events to raise awareness of the need for safe blood and blood products and to thank voluntary unpaid blood donors for their life-saving gifts of blood.

The theme of the 2012 World Blood Donor Day campaign, “Every blood donor is a hero” focuses on the idea that every one of us can become a hero by giving blood. While recognising the silent and unsung heroes who save lives every day through their blood donations, the theme also strongly encourages more people all over the world to donate blood voluntarily and regularly.

To celebrate WBDD the Welsh Blood Service invited school children from Pentre’r Graig Primary School to dress up as super heroes to illustrate how many donations are needed everyday. In support of WBDD players from the Ospreys visited the school and met the ‘super heroes’.

Dr Geoff Poole, Director of the Welsh Blood Service added:

“Our donors are everyday heroes who save the lives of people in our communities. The patients who receive blood cannot thank our donors personally. So, on their behalf, THANK YOU for being a hero in their time of need”

Ospreys player Richard Hibbard attended the school with James King and he commented:

“We were honoured to be invited along on behalf of the Ospreys to support the Welsh Blood Service and to promote World Blood Donor Day. Giving blood is a way that everybody in the community can be a real super hero and I genuinely hope that our involvement will help encourage more of our fans to donate.”

Every year 92 million blood donations are collected worldwide. The transfusion of blood and blood products helps save millions of lives every year. For further information about becoming a regular donor please visit welshblood.org.uk or call 0800 252266. You can also follow the Welsh Blood Service on Twitter @givebloodwales.