In September 1999 Jo made a promise to repay the Blood Service for all they had done for her, - Here are the details of that pledge and the results!

Since 1995 I have received in excess of 1000 units of donated Plasma and other blood products.

As I have been a recipient of donor blood I am not able to give blood myself, but I still wanted to repay the National Blood Service for all they have done for me. So, I made a pledge to recruit 1000 new or lapsed blood donors by the time I was 30. This was a birthday that I could not have hoped to see if it were not for Blood Donors. I had just under 18 months to achieve my goal.

I set about encouraging friends and family to register as blood donors. Many had already done so, having witnessed my hospital stays. I then approached my work colleagues at Thames Valley Police and had an article put in our staff magazine. I even contacted our neighbouring Police force – Hampshire Constabulary. Both organisations were hugely supportive. I also contacted my old school and gave a presentation to a 6th form assembly, encouraging young people to register as soon as they were old enough.

Towards the end of 1999 the television channel – ITV – were running a community challenge called Year of Promise. This was to encourage people to make a promise for the year 2000. I chose to promise that I would recruit 1000 blood donors. I was interviewed for local news bulletins and even for the national news but unfortunately a bigger news story took priority on the day!



The ball was rolling and soon I was asked by the blood service to help out with some of their own press releases – I was evidence of how giving blood really can save a life.

With 2 weeks to spare till my 30th birthday I managed to exceed my target of 1000 new donors. However the need for blood is a constant need and my efforts to find new donors did not end there. I always include a signature on my work and private emails – with the phone number of the National Blood Service.

Do Something Amazing, Give Blood 0845 7 711 711


If you have been treated for TTP, UK donation rules do not allow you to donate blood, however you will know lots of people who are eligible – why not make a pledge to recruit donors for the National Blood Service (or your local service for non UK residents). It’s a worthwhile cause, as you will know!

If you are a friend or relative of a TTP patient perhaps giving blood is a way of giving something back in thanks for the help being given to your loved one?

To give blood in the UK, you will need to be aged between 17 and 59 years and be in good health. Rules for donation have changed so even if you have had certain conditions such as Jaundice in the past, you may still be able to give blood Please don't underestimate the need for blood, every day hospitals in England need 10,000 donations of blood for life saving operations and treatments. Donated blood has a shelf life, so once you have made the decision to give blood - please keep up the commitment, the National Blood Service rely on people like you to save lives.

To enrole as a blood donor click here - http://www.blood.co.uk

For further details about eligibility click here - http://www.blood.co.uk

For further details about how valuable donor blood is click here - http://www.blood.co.uk