British charity’s blood donor record bid aims to save 150,000 lives

A British charity attempting to set a world record for the most blood donations given in one day has said giving blood is one of the “easiest and best things” a person can do.

The #GlobalBloodHeroes record bid, organised by Muslim social justice charity Who Is Hussain?, in partnership with NHS Blood and Transplant, aims to save 150,000 lives around the world.

Donors from 350 health centres in 23 countries joined forces to give blood on Saturday.

Participating locations in Britain included London, Leeds, Birmingham, Luton, Manchester, Edinburgh, Glasgow and Aberdeen.

Who Is Hussain? trustee Mohamedali Gokal told the PA news agency: “It’s one of the easiest and best things one can do.

“So many people, myself included, have a slight fear of needles, which is really normal, but it is just a tiny prick and then doesn’t hurt at all after that.

“There are trained phlebotomists and clinical nurses around the whole time and you just sit for a few minutes and then it’s done.

“Just by doing that, just giving up a few minutes, you could save three lives. It’s incredible.”

Who Is Hussain?, which is a registered charity in England and Wales, was founded in 2012 and has teams in 60 cities across the world.

According to the charity, one in four of the people giving blood in England as part of Saturday’s campaign was a first-time blood donor.

Carl Etherington, from Castleford, West Yorkshire, gave blood during Saturday’s campaign and said the atmosphere at the donor centre was “brilliant”.

The 33-year-old told PA: “It is a great cause.

Staff and blood donors at a centre in Tooting, south London (Who Is Hussain?/PA)

“I watched the (charity’s) video last night, and, even though I might be of a different background (to the recipient), ultimately, blood is blood.

“The more you donate, the more lives will be saved. No matter what your background, you must try to contribute to society.”

The current world record is 35,000 units of blood donated in a single day, set in India in 2020.

A single blood donation gives one unit, or one pint, which is a 10th of the body’s total and is quickly replaced.

Who Is Hussain? hopes its world record bid will raise awareness among ethnic minority communities where blood donation rates are low.

One regular donor called Laurence took part in the #GlobalBloodHeroes campaign by donating blood at a centre in Tooting, south London.

He told PA: “I’m grateful that the message is being spread.

“I have a bit of personal pride because they treat me as a first responder because my blood is O negative and that means anyone can have my blood.

Carl Etherington, from Castleford, West Yorkshire, gave blood during Saturday’s campaign and said the atmosphere at the donor centre was ‘”brilliant’ (Who Is Hussain?/PA)

“So it is taken on air ambulances and required in maternity wards for when they don’t know the blood type of a newborn baby.

“When you give blood it’s all the staff that actually do all the work. All you have to do is keep yourself healthy.”

In the next few days, blood donor organisations around the world will confirm how many #GlobalBloodHeroes donors took part in their respective countries.

The final total will then be confirmed by the leading verification body, Official World Records.

To find out more about the charity and register to donate blood, visit: blood.whoishussain.org