Winter Blood Challenge - It's on!

• Our results in 2005/2006 were fantastic with Save the Children supporters registering 70 donations, contributing to the overall total of 3368. A fantastic achievement. Thank you for your support.
• So far this year we've had 17 registered donations , putting us in 20th place overall - so get moving and together we can beat last year's tally.
  

Save the Children supports the 2007 Summer Blood Challenge: 1 June to the 31 August 2007.

• The Blood Challenge
• Donor registration - How to donate

Every year thousands of Australians rely on blood or blood products to live. This blood comes from Australian voluntary blood donors – the unsung heroes of our community.

Currently in Australia, only one in thirty people donates blood. These amazing donors provide blood for the one in three of us who will require blood or blood products during our lifetimes. As the demand for blood increases, so does the need for donors.

Every time you donate you can save up to three lives!

The Blood Challenge - Now in its 29th year.

It all began in 1979, when the Motorcycle Riders' Association of Australia (MRAA) issued a challenge to other organisations to give more blood than the state's motorcyclists during the three summer months. The MRAA recognised that summer was traditionally a difficult time for the Blood Service, particularly after Christmas. Groups such as the Scout Association and the Victorian Police joined in and met the challenge.

Today these organisations maintain their support and enthusiasm for the challenge. They have since been joined by over fifty businesses, clubs and government departments, building the Summer Blood Challenge into a well recognised annual community event.

Why a blood challenge?

• To ensure that blood supplies are maintained over the summer months, particularly in January when blood stocks are low due to many donors being on holidays
• To increase the number of new blood donors
• To encourage lapsed donors to return to blood donation
• To offer participating organisations the chance to demonstrate and promote their commitment to their community by performing an essential community service

Participant benefits

• To enhance the image of your organisation within the community and amongst employees / members
• Foster stronger links amongst employees / members
• The opportunity to win awards in recognition of your achievements
• The chance to save lives over summer

Why a Winter Challenge?

Over the past few years the need for blood has increased dramatically over the winter period, and with colds and flu's taking out many of our regular donors it can be tough to keep blood stocks high. That is why all states of Australia are looking at the successful Summer Blood Challenge as a template for a new campaign to build up stocks for winter.

What are you hoping to achieve from this challenge?

The target for the first annual Winter Blood Challenge is 4000 donations, which is a similar target to that set for the Summer version. However in the end we just want to make sure that we have enough donors to ensure supply exceeds the increased demand.

Who is involved?

This challenge is going to be BIG! For the first time all states of Australia are getting involved in the one challenge, and competition between large and small organisations will be intense! However details of exactly how the challenge will work are still being decided, but we are currently recruiting for participants so if you believe your organisation can contribute as many as 1000 donations (or as few as 1) then we'd love to have your organisation involved.

Everyone is invited to join - businesses, community groups, organisations, school groups or even really large families!

Donor registration

The Summer Blood Challenge runs from 1 June to the 31 August 2007 .

Donors need to register their blood donations between these dates.

Call 13 14 95 to organise an appointment and click here to find out where to donate.

Download this form [Adobe PDF, 693 Kb] to see if you are eligible to donate

Save the Children supporters  can register a donation for their organisation by filling in the Summer Blood Challenge Registration Form. These forms can be found in the refreshment area at every blood collection centre, including regional areas and mobile units. If donors have any problems locating the forms they can ask our staff or speak to a Charge Nurse.

Friends and family

Friends and family are welcome to donate as part of the Summer Blood Challenge. In fact, their donations will be greatly appreciated. Just make sure they complete a registration form so their donations count to your overall total.