Sheffield Sickle Cell and Thalassaemia Foundation

July 4th is National Sickle Cell and Thalassaemia Awareness Day. To mark the day SSCAT Foundation, in conjunction with the National Blood Service, is holding a blood donor recruitment day.

The SSCAT Foundation is looking to recruit people aged 17-60 from the black communities to donate blood in Sheffield.

The NBS needs to recruit 10,000 units of blood every day to meet hospital demand. Blood transfusions are a key part of treatment for both sickle cell and thalassaemia suffers and, because some blood groups are more common amongst some ethnic communities, a patient is more likely to find a match from someone with a similar ethnic background.

Usually anyone aged between 17-60, who weighs more than 50kg (7 stone 12 pounds) and is in good health can become a blood donor.

Donors are invited to attend the Sheffield Blood Donor Centre, Catherdral Court, Church Street, Sheffield on Thursday 4th July, between 1pm –5pm.

For further information about the SSCAT Foundation contact Sheila, Nighat or Joanne on 0114 275 3209 or e-mail sscat@compuserve.com 
For more information about blood donation contact Helen Shepard on 
0114 203 4852

Find out more about Health in Burngreave. What do you think? Join the debate on our Health bulletin board.