When I was a teenager my brother was badly burnt and required many transfusions. Now as a mother of three, I often wonder what if one of my babies were in an accident and needed blood but no one had donated? How can I expect others to do it if I don't do it myself? A good friend recently died of cancer but the blood donations he received meant that he was able to spend a lot longer with his family than anticipated, and blood donors were the first people the family thanked at his funeral. Giving blood is such an easy thing to do, it doesn't cost you anything except a little bit of time, and yet it helps so many. Now my eldest son donates regularly and I'm so proud of him.