Asda’s Banking on Your Blood This Halloween

–       Supermarket aims to recruit 2000 new blood donors for NIBTS

With 150 new blood donors needed each week in Northern Ireland, Asda is taking its Halloween message to a new level by urging customers and colleagues to consider giving a bit extra when doing their shopping this October.

While still embracing the fun, fantasy and tradition of Halloween, the supermarket is backing the NI Blood Transfusion Service’s campaign to make local people aware of the urgent need for new donors.  Every hour, three people living here receive blood transfusions, yet the number of new NI donors has decreased by 35.7% in the past ten years.

“Many of our colleagues and customers have mentioned the recent ‘Missing Type’ campaign which united blood donor organisations across the world in its call for new donors,” said George Rankin, Asda’s Senior Director, NI.

“With Halloween approaching, and trolleys full of fake blood, fangs and vampire costumes, we felt it would be the perfect time to do something positive to support this life-saving initiative.”

As it is one of the busiest times of the year, each Asda store in NI is aiming to recruit 150 new donors this Halloween, potentially boosting new donor numbers by over 2000 by the end of October. Anyone who is interested in registering as a blood donor will be signposted to local donation centres and sessions.

NI Blood Transfusion Service will join with Asda’s team of hard-working Community Champions to recruit new donors. Andrea Copithorne of NIBTS said:

“Locally, people are still largely unaware of the significance of blood donation in terms of saving lives and transforming health. Halloween is the perfect time to reverse the decline by signing up to become a new donor and we’re delighted that Asda stores are opening their doors and lending their support to our campaign.”

As well as signing up to blood donation in-store, people can enrol at www.nibts.org, by calling 0500 534666 or texting BLOOD to 60081.