Labor candidate for Southern River Terry Healy became the youngest person in Australia to make 300 blood donations when he gave blood at the Cannington Blood Centre on December 14.
Mr Healy encouraged those who were able to donate to do so during the holiday season as more than 110 people needed blood between Christmas and New Year.
The donations would help in preventing a shortage of blood products vital for cancer patients.
Mr Healy said bloodstocks were low during the holiday season and with increased risks of road accidents the importance of donating blood during the holiday season was crucial.
“I can’t encourage people enough to donate blood,” he said.
“It takes an hour or so out of your day and can change someone’s life.”
Australian Red Cross Blood Services spokeswoman Jessica Willet said the blood service launched its Christmas Blood Blitz to help fill Cannington Blood Donor Centre’s 110 empty appointments between December 26 and January 2.
“Thousands of Australian patients needed blood this Christmas and New Year just to have the hope of spending those moments with friends and family,” she said.
“The problem is platelets cannot be stock-piled so we need a constant, fresh supply as anything collected before Christmas Eve will have expired or run-out long before New Year’s Eve.”
Ms Willet said giving blood was the greatest gift of all with each donation saving up to three lives.
To make an appointment at Cannington Blood Donar Centre call 13 14 95 or visit www.donateblood.com.au
