Dacey the donor

A plea has gone out from the Welsh Blood Service for donors due to a shortage of supplies in South Wales.

Coughs, colds, ’flu and the Norovirus virus bug, have caused a shortage of the most common blood type – O Positive.

One such donor is Pontypridd rugby player Gavin Dacey who donated his blood after his sister Charlene Burns needed operations. Gavin, 23, said: “When Charlene was young, she had to have operations on her feet and had to have the bones broken and corrected.

“I found out that when you have an operation, there is always blood on hand just in case it is needed, so I decided to donate.

“My sister, brother and mother all donate as we feel it is a very important thing. I think it’s really important for people to donate, especially young males. It doesn’t take much of your time and it can help a lot of people.

“The people at the Welsh Blood Service here are brilliant. They’re friendly and really look after you.”

Trudi Evans, recruitment manager for the Welsh Blood Service, said: “What we are looking for are people who have never donated before or who may have missed their normal donation sessions or have been ill, to get in touch with us.

“As soon as people are well enough they need to find out where they can give blood as we don’t want them to wait until their next appointment in six months’ time.

“Other blood stocks are OK but it is O Positive we are concerned about. We need to have 24,000 new donors a year so we will welcome people who want to give for the first time. If people have never given before this is a great New Year’s resolution.”

For more information, visit www.welshblood.org.uk or call the freephone number 0800 252266.

Blood donor sessions will be held on the following dates;

• Friday 11th January at Pontypridd RFC  10am - 6pm
• Friday 18th January at the Muni Arts Centre 10am - 6pm
• Friday 25th January at the Muni Arts Centre 10am - 6pm