GALLERY: Pint-for-a-pint blood drive

O’Hagan’s Rock Cottage in Radiokop, along with the South African National Blood Service (SANBS), hosted a blood drive on 18 April.

Owner of O’Hagan’s Rock Cottage Theresa Fouché said, “Last year we had 65 pints of blood donated and this year, we got a whopping 70 pints of blood.” After a donation, a donor was rewarded by O’Hagan’s Rock Cottage with a ticket to collect either a pint of Castle draught or a coke, depending on their preference.

Willie Swart, who initiated the blood drive, said it was important to give back and raise money for charities, and that is what the O’Hagan’s Old Boys Club is about.

“It is about helping other people. You never know when a friend or even yourself may be in need of blood. Saving lives by donating blood is an amazing thing to do [while] giving back to society. A positive mental attitude (PMA) will make the country better if people think about others too,” added Fouché.

SANBS phlebotomist Memmie Masocha expressed his gratitude to everyone who had donated blood.

“We are at a good place. At the SANBS head office right now we have four days’ stock of blood. However, there is always a need for blood as sometimes we do experience shortages.”

According to Masocha, there is a need for O Rh negative blood donors as it is a universal blood group and can be given to anyone. SANBS does not get many AB negative blood as it is a rare blood type.

“People are encouraged to donate blood. It takes about 24 hours for a donor to regain their original blood volume, provided they drink enough fluids. A blood donor may donate 56 days after they have donated blood as it gives their red blood cells time to release and mature.”

Steven Wood, who is part of the O’Hagan’s Old Boys Club said, blood is essential to help other blood drives make a perfect platform for SANBS to collect blood.

What some blood donors had to say:

Lindsay Hartland: “I am a universal blood donor (O Rh negative). I was a bit scared but donating blood is never that bad and I always feel good once I am done donating.”

Bernardi Van Rensburg: “It is a privilege to be able to donate blood and help someone. [Giving blood] is an act of kindness and I am so happy I can be part of it.”

Leon Bosh: “I feel kind of nervous in the beginning but it has always been about doing the right thing which is donating and helping someone else.”

Grant Weston: “Someone has to do it, it has to be done, everyone should do it.”

Daniel Gombe: “I do it because I want to save a friend’s life one day and I want to set an example.”