Bunbury man celebrates 400th blood donation as Red Cross calls for more help during the Christmas period

While Christmas is a time to take a break and relax for most, the need for blood donations never slows down.

That is the message Red Cross Lifeblood wants Bunbury residents to remember heading into this festive season.

The Bunbury Donor Centre needs 130 people to donate blood between December 27 and January 3 to keep up the blood supply during a busy time of the year.

Centre manager Sue McKenzie said the centre had many regular donors who went away during the Christmas holidays, but WA patients never got a break from needing blood and plasma.

“We’re desperate for more new donors,” she said.

“We always need O negative blood and we’re open on the public holidays with lots of appointments to fill.”

For regular donor David Bills, giving blood is a family affair.

On Friday Mr Bills celebrated his 400th donation and encouraged others to take the leap and do the same.

“My mother and grandmother used to donate and as soon as I came of age I started to as well and just haven’t stopped,” he said.

To Mr Bills, donating blood is a small task he can do to help others.

“It’s easy and it’s not as scary as some might think it is,” he said.

“Just give it a go.”