Christmas is coming and blood stocks need a boost.

The winter months can be a particularly challenging time for blood and platelet stocks, with hospitals in England and North Wales needing up to half a million units of blood to see them through this period up to the New Year.

Conscious that people may forget about donating due to the pressures of planning and preparing for the festive celebrations, the NHS Blood and Transplant has launched a radio advert, online campaign and this brief YouTube film to remind the public that donating blood can literally give the gift of life at Christmas.

For Alan Hawkes, giving blood was something he recalls being ‘lured into’ as a young lad. “I was told a fib and was lured under false pretenses!” he laughs.

The 71-year-old from East Bierley explains he was invited to give blood after work with the incentive of having a pint of Guinness afterwards.

He received a cup of tea instead, but it gave Alan a taster of how important the painless procedure is and he has since seen first-hand the benefits it can bring through his role as a volunteer driver for Marie Curie day therapy patients.

“It is such a good thing. People we have known have needed transfusions,” says Alan, who recently received an award commemorating his 75th donation.

“And some of the patients I take are going for blood transfusions as part of their treatment and therapy. From seeing physically the difference it can make to them, they are coming home weak and tired and a few weeks later they are a different person, more chatty and relaxed. I can literally see the good it does. Having seen first-hand what it can do I think ‘let’s get it promoted’,” says Alan.

Wendy Allison, 48, from Bradford has been a blood donor for 30 years. Appropriately, she wore a red dress and a choker-style necklace she’d customised with red droplets symbolising the 75 blood donations she has given over the years for the presentation of her Emerald award at Leeds University.

Wendy was 18 when she spotted an advertisement which prompted her to become a blood donor. “It was something that I can actually give back to society and it is a nice way of giving back.

“You never know when you will need either blood, platelets or plasma, but I just keep going back. It takes less than half an hour to do.

“It is something you can give back to society and it is something you can give anonymously,” says Wendy, who is also conscious she is helping to save people’s lives.

“It is just less than a pint you donate and every pint can save three people’s lives. That feeling of walking away thinking you have saved three people’s lives is fantastic. There is a really good sense of achievement,” says Wendy.

Adding: “It is the pure milk of human kindness. We don’t get paid for it and we give to others.”

A unit of blood has a shelf life of 35 days. Hospitals in England and North Wales need around 7,000 units of blood every day to treat patients in urgent need and each unit donated could help save or improve the lives of up to three people. Besides being crucial to care in A&E, blood is used to treat patients with cancer, blood disorders like sickle cell or thalassemia as well as women needing blood during childbirth.

Donna Batty, NHS Blood and Transplant’s lead donor relations manager for West Yorkshire says: “This is an extremely challenging time of year for us as we need to make sure that hospitals are supplied with the blood and platelets they need to treat patients over the Christmas holidays.

“So while people are in a generous frame of mind, we’re asking that they don’t forget those whose must-have gift is blood or platelets. Donating doesn’t cost a penny and saves lives, meaning many more children and adults can spend precious time with their families over Christmas.”

If you are 17 and over an in general good health, visit blood.co.uk or call 0300 123 23 23 to find the nearest blood donation session.

Bradford Donor Centre is on Rawson Road, Bradford. Call (01274) 841200 or visit blood.co.uk to make an appointment.

All donors are important but those with O Rh negative and B Rh negative and A Rh negative and AB Rh negative are particularly in demand.