Something a little different on the blog today! (But don’t worry – there’s still food involved!) For those of my readers that don’t know, in my ‘day’ job I’m a general practitioner (GP). So when The NHS National Blood & Transfusion Service (NHSBT) got in touch about their new #Bakedonate campaign, I was really interested. 
This campaign is aimed at generating new blood donors aged between 17 and 24, due to a severe shortage of blood donors in this category in the UK. The NHSBT is dedicated to saving and improving lives and encourage people to donate organs, blood, stem cells and tissue. As well as donations, the NHSBT supplies blood, organs, stem cells and tissues to patients in need. The staff work tirelessly to raise the quality, effectiveness and clinical outcomes of blood and transplant services, providing expert advice to other NHS organisations and to the health departments of the four UK countries.
Without blood donation, many people would not be alive today. Recently there has been a huge shortage of blood donors, leaving blood available in the UK at an all-time low. The normal five-day blood supply has been diminshed to just two days of blood being available at any one time, which is why this campagin to find new donors is SO important.
In Birmingham, the campagin kicks off on 1st April in the BullRing, with Celebrity Chef Mich Turner coming along to bake a secret recipe, perfect for replenishing those iron stores after donating blood. The campaign wants as many students, sports teams, 6th formers and youth groups as possible to attend the event and following the event they are hoping lots of young adults in the 17-24-year-old age range (although I’m sure older donors won’t be turned away!) will donate blood throughout April at the blood donation center in Birmingham New Street. Once they’ve donated or during donation the idea is to take a selfie and nominate others to donate blood, using the hashtag #bakedonate. Following their selfie nominations we hope they bake and enjoy the scrumptious secret recipe provided by Mich, designed specifically to boost iron levels and simultaneously raise awareness of this very worthwhile cause.
If you wish to sign up to donate please click here and quote Reference Z82 when registering.
I urge you all to sign up and donate (I do!) its SUCH a worthy cause.
Meanwhile, I got a sneak peak at Mich’s secret Iron boosting recipe…… doesn’t it look good!! The perfect boost after giving blood :)
