Bunbury man Alex Campbell makes record-setting 500th blood donation ahead of National Blood Donor Week

A generous Bunbury resident has become the new record holder for blood donations within the South West city after recently making his 500th donation.

Alex Campbell made his donation during an appointment at the Bunbury Red Cross Donor Centre last Tuesday and was showered with balloons and gifts, thanking him for his life-saving generosity.

Mr Campbell told the Bunbury Herald he first donated blood on his 18th birthday and had been continuing to make regular donations ever since.

“The donor clinic used to be in the basement of the old regional hospital site,” he said.

“I was studying and there was a news report about the need to donate blood so I signed up and have been doing it ever since for 40 years now.

“I have always felt that donating blood was an important thing to do because not many people can and less people choose to.”

It comes as the Australian Red Cross Lifeblood celebrates the “humble heroes who save and change lives” with National Blood Donor Week.

Running from June 13 to 19, the week provides an opportunity to recognise donors and inspire others to start donating blood.

Australian Red Cross Lifeblood spokesperson Jessica Willet said there were more than 2800 donors in Bunbury, including Mr Campbell.

“One in three people will need blood or blood products in their lifetime so we want to say a huge thankyou to our amazing donors who make this possible,” she said.

“Australian patients receive the gift of life because ordinary people do an extraordinary thing — they roll up to help.”

The Australian Red Cross needs 140,000 more people to join the community of blood donors who save the lives of 1.5 million patients across Australia every year.

“We are calling on people to become the lifeblood of Australia, the lifeblood of their communities and the lifeblood of those 1.5 million patients who need blood every year,” Ms Willet said.

“From cancer patients to road trauma victims, people with blood disorders, surgical patients and new mums — blood is needed somewhere in Australia every 18 seconds.

“It takes just an hour of your time to donate blood and every donation can help save up to three lives.”