Why Jane's family donates

As long as I can remember my parents have made an effort to give blood to save lives. My father (O+) at 16 talked himself into after gaining his first apprenticeship in 1977, after he married my mum and had myself and my younger sister he challenged her to give blood to save lives and being O- she did. When my younger sister and I turned 16 we both decided to join the Hannam team and give blood, knowing how important our blood types were (I’m O- and my sister is O+) Since then we have encouraged each other and also friends and family to give blood. We enjoy talking in the family group chat to schedule appointments to do it together. On a family trip this week we all met up at the Dunedin donor centre and gave blood as a family, my cousin joining us for the first time as well. It’s important to us to continue to give blood and save lives, you never know when it might be you or someone you love. Getting that notification that tells you your blood has been used to save a life is worth the 40 or so minutes it takes to donate.