The Blood Transfusion Service in Scotland has heaped praise on Scottish& Universal Newspapers’ Save A Life for Christmas Campaign.

The Trinity Mirror business launched its campaign in response to an appealfrom Scottish National Blood Transfusion Service in the lead-up toChristmas when blood stocks reached dangerously low levels.

The campaign has been so successful that in Perth, the servicecouldn’t cope with the demand after a month-long push in the PerthshireAdvertiser.

Advertiser editor Alison Lowson said: “Donations increased by a massive 33 per centduring the November/December push which saw an incredible 261 new donorsand 120 returned donors.”

The size of the response astonished local blood transfusion manager,Jaqueline Millar, who said: “This was an amazing response.

“We’ve reallybeen overwhelmed by the number of donors coming forward in Perth andKinross.

“At times the number of willing donors has exceeded the capacity of themobile units, meaning that people have had to face lengthy waits.”

Other S&UN titles involved in the campaign reported similar successstories.

Stirling Observer editor Alan Rennie said: “Following blooddonation sessions in Killearn, Bannockburn and Stirling throughoutDecember, donations have passed levels expected by the transfusionservice.”

Elizabeth Martin from the Galloway News said: “A record 195 donors turnedout to the first ‘Save a life for Christmas’ session in The Galloway Newsarea – more than had ever attended a session there.”

And John Murdoch, editor of the Wishaw Press and the Airdrie & CoatbridgeAdvertiser, said: “The service was delighted by the response fromAirdrie and Coatbridge Advertiser readers with over 483 people donatingover the festive season, a rise of over 20 per cent on last year.

“Theywere also delighted with the efforts of the Wishaw Press and reported asimilar percentage rise.”

Meanwhile, in Dumfries there have been nearly 1,300 donations, the WestLothian area saw a final total of 700 and Hamilton has been bowled over bythe response to the campaign in the Hamilton Advertiser.

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