I chose to organise the Formby Times campaign urging readers to give blood, knowing I myself was a prime target.

Aged 31, I had never donated before and felt rather guilty about it. Here, though, was the push I needed to get started.

My reasons for not going, probably shared by many young adults, varied from being too busy to disliking needles and worrying about fainting.

However, the facts and figures sent by the National Blood Service made me think of things in a different light – imagining, for example, that it was me or a family member who needed an emergency transfusion. Or that my donation had helped to save someone's life.

I was also shocked to learn that just five of every 100 people who can give blood, do so.

Spurred on, I registered and made an appointment for Sunday's session in Southport. And having now done it, I'm left wondering what on earth I was worried about.

The nurses were friendly and reassuring, the information clearly explained and the squeam-factor minimised by collection bags under the bed, not at eye level.

You can even opt out of the slight pain of the needle by requesting a local anaesthetic. I chose to look away and so never laid eyes on whatever entered my arm.

For the five or 10 minutes it takes to collect one unit, donors read or chat to the nurses. Then you rest with drinks and biscuits for five minutes before leaving.

The process was swift and although they took every care to check I was not woozy, I left clear-headed and feeling mightily pleased with myself.

When I'm invited back in a few months I'm going to drag my husband and friends along too, as I now firmly believe the hardest thing about giving blood is making that first appointment.

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