WA businesses save 65,000 lives

It appears Water Corporation employees know the value of precious liquid more than most, with the government-owned entity recording the most blood donations of any Western Australian organisation for a fifth year in a row.

Water Corporation joined 773 other WA organisations whose staff all up donated blood 21,585 times as part of the Australian Red Cross Blood Service’s Red 25 program, a blood drive aimed at encouraging donations from organisations.

Blood Service spokesperson Jessica Willet said the generosity of WA employees had helped to save 65,000 lives.

“Every donation of blood saves three lives, which means the WA business community’s 21,585 donations have helped save close to 65,000 people,” she said.

“Red 25 aims to rally businesses from across the country to together give 25 percent of all blood donations needed.

“Every year Australia needs 1.3 million donations of blood, so we are calling on more businesses to get involved with Red 25.

In total 215 staff members from the Water Corporation gave 663 blood donations last year.

Water Corporation’s Red 25 coordinator, Chris le Juge de Segrais, said she and her colleagues were thrilled to claim this year’s winner’s trophy for the blood challenge, especially as it was the organisation’s fifth win a row.

“Donating blood as part of the Red 25 movement is about team pride and the sense of unity you get from working together for something bigger than yourself,” she said.

“One in three people will need blood in their lifetime, chances are they could be your workmate, neighbour or family member.”

The Red 25 blood drive continues this year.