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Giving Is in Our Blood: Heritage Month Call for Donors
Heritage Month with a purpose
September is Heritage Month, a time when South Africans celebrate culture, history, and identity. This year, the Western Cape Blood Service (WCBS) is asking people to add something more to that mix: the gift of life through blood donation.
Their campaign, “Giving Is in My Blood: Make Blood Donation Part of Your Heritage,” reminds us that giving is not just about tradition or ritual. It is about saving lives. WCBS Public Relations Manager Marike Carli said there is no substitute for blood. Every unit collected is a lifeline for patients and their families.
Celebrating donors
To honour those who roll up their sleeves, WCBS is giving donors a special water bottle this September. It is a small thank you for a very big act. But the campaign goes a step further with the Extra Drop initiative. Donors can choose to forgo their gift and instead allow WCBS to donate R15 on their behalf to the South African Bone Marrow Registry. This organisation connects patients in need with bone marrow transplants that can save lives.
Why now matters
The service expressed gratitude for donations made during winter, a period when stocks often dip. Those contributions kept reserves at safe levels. As spring begins, WCBS is calling for continued commitment to ensure hospitals across the province never run short. Blood is always in demand, whether for accident victims, patients undergoing surgery, or people living with chronic conditions.
Who can donate?
If you are between 16 and 75, weigh at least 50 kilograms, are in good health, and live a safe sexual lifestyle, you may be eligible. The process takes only half an hour and can be repeated every 56 days. WCBS advises having a good meal a few hours beforehand and drinking plenty of fluids before and after giving blood.
How to get involved
Donating blood is one of the simplest and most powerful ways to make a difference. In a month dedicated to celebrating who we are as South Africans, WCBS is encouraging residents to consider generosity as part of their heritage.
For more information or to find a clinic near you, visit wcbs.org.za or WhatsApp 060 549 7244.
Also read: Sanlam’s Bold Transformation: How South Africa’s Biggest Insurer Is Reshaping Its Future
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Source: IOL
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