Tragedy leads to star backing our Give Blood campaign.
15th October 1997
Newcastle-upon Tyne Evening Chronicle
Friend’s death prompts, call for more blood donors
Tragedy leads to star backing our campaign
PSYCHIC Uri Geller backed the Chronicle’s blood donor campaign and told of the heartache which showed him the importance of supplies.
The spoon-bending TV star told how a pal died in his arms in Israel from gunshot wounds because of a shortage of blood.
He said: ‘I was delighted to get involved with the National Blood Service’s campaign to encourage more people to give blood.
“I saw one of my dearest friends die from his wounds before vital blood supplies could reach him – so I know how important it is for people to give blood so that it is always available when needed.” The Chronicle has launched a major campaign to boost the region’s overstretched blood supplies after we revealed North East hospitals face a daily-crisis as low stocks hinder the battle to save patients’ lives.
We called on our army of readers to come to the rescue by giving a few minutes of their time to donate blood, and the campaign is now nearing its target of recruiting 2,000 new donors.
Since it was launched on July 24 it has attracted 1,939 new and lapsed donors and has been hailed a major success.
Julie Stevens, of the Regional Blood Transfusion Centre, in Newcastle, said: “We have had a very busy week with the demand for blood, where we are falling down is that not as many people who are invited to sessions as regular donors are coming forward as we would like.”
“The message is that if you are invited to sessions you should make every effort to attend.”
Mr Geller backed the campaign when he appeared on Channel 5’s Five’s Company chat show.
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