Regional daily journalists signed up in droves to back their newspaper’s push to increase the number of blood donors on its patch.

The Oxford Mail launched its campaign to 2,000 readers to register to give blood on the front page of Monday’s edition, pictured below, to coincide with the start of National Blood Week.

A total of 35 of the Mail’s journalists, printers and advertising sales staff were involved in a blood donation session on Tuesday to boost the drive.

Among them was reporter Alex Regan, whose first person piece on donating for the first time was published in today’s edition.

Speaking to HTFP, Alex joked: “I’ve literally bled for a story.”

He added: “In terms of campaigning journalism I think it’s really important that local newspapers do things like this to support good causes, and hopefully it will have an effect.

“It was the first time I’d given blood and I was certainly a bit apprehensive about it, but we all believed it was in a good cause and hopefully the publicity will make more readers aware of it too.”

Reporter Hannah Somerville is one of six people at the paper who has a group B blood type.

She said: “I was feeling a bit squeamish getting my blood type checked, but now I know that I have a rare blood type I realise it’s more important for me to donate.

“I think that regardless of your blood type you should always donate as your blood is more likely to help a greater number of people.”