SANBS celebrates unsung heroes at annual blood donor awards
It was a night of appreciation and celebration of the local people who donated blood selflessly to save the lives of the many people in our private and public hospitals in the NKZN.
Heroes and sheroes’ were paid tribute to when the South African Blood Donor Service held their annual donor awards at the Black Rock Casino on Friday evening (February 23.)
Calling them ‘heroes and sheroes,’ the MC of the evening, Khulekani Zuma, applauded the Newcastle branch as being a constant top performer saying “KZN bloodstocks are at 3,5 which shows we are doing something right.”
Nationwide, there is still a challenge to the diversity in blood donations. However, Michelle Apperley, Zone Donor Committee member was proud to comment that ‘in terms of black donors, we are in the top three in SA.”
In his speech, Zone Donor Manager, Phelelani Mkhize, praised the ‘nobility of the donors saying
“It is rare to find someone who gives without expectation as these donors do nowadays. Our donors give just to help their fellow man and they deserve applause for that.”
The keynote speaker, blood recipient, Jeremy Robertson, shared a first-hand narrative of how giving blood saves lives. Jeremy was diagnosed in 2011 with an illness that severely weakened his immune system and caused uncontrollable bleeding and anaemia.
Donors who gave 50, 75, 100 units of blood each received an award, with a standing ovation for two donors, Lynton Apperley and Casper van Der Westhuizen, who achieved a milestone of 200 units of blood donated
Neelashan Govender, Head of Donor Relations, commended the team led by Shavani Sewpaul for a job well done.
See photos:
The news provided to you in this link has been investigated and compiled by the editorial staff of the Newcastle Advertiser, a sold newspaper distributed in the Newcastle area. Please follow us on Youtube and feel free to like, comment, and subscribe. For more local news, visit our webpage, follow us on Facebook and Twitter, and request an add on our WhatsApp (082 874 5550).
