With 40% fewer new blood donors than 10 year ago, The Mayor of Brent Cllr Lesley Jones with Shree Swaminarayan Mandir Kingsbury, launched a new drive urging local residents to help fill the gap.

Local representatives from NHS Blood and Transplant came together with regular from the congregation and Shree Muktajeevan Swamibapa Pipe Band to unveil the innovative Missing Type campaign. The campaign removes the letters A, O and B (the letters that make up the blood groups) to highlight the need for new blood donors with all blood types. Why don’t you lose your AOBs and tweet a message of support using #missingtype?

Nikita Sanghani, a young member of the congregation who received blood due to a childhood blood cancer acute lymphoblastic leukaemia, showcases the amazing gift of blood:

“I had two and a half years of intensive treatment, including chemotherapy and steroids. Whilst having treatment I had several blood transfusions and without these my treatment may not have been successful and I might not have been here today. Blood donation really does help to save lives. I am grateful to be here today, fully recovered and alive and well to tell the tale. So I urge everyone out there, especially from the ethnic groups, to donate blood and help to someone’s life.”

On World Blood Donor Day, Sunday 14 June, we aim to hold their biggest and most successful blood donation session ever together with our brothers and sisters from around the globe, including Kenya and the United States, who will also be holding sessions to support this important cause.

Do something amazing, give blood by booking your appointment now.

Dominic Sutherland, Deputy Regional Marketing Manager – East, from NHS Blood and Transplant said:
“We’ve been working with the temple since 2009 and have collected over 1,300 units. It’s been a really good project with within the community and is really boosting the numbers of new and regular donors from all ethnicities.”

The Mayor of Brent Cllr Lesley Jones commented:

“I’m just amazed at this temple and it’s lovely to see the facilities it’s offering the community for activities such as blood donation. With a 40% reduction of new donors over  the last decade, I will do my best to encourage others to give the amazing gift of life.”

About blood donation and Shree Swaminarayan Mandir Kingsbury
Every unit of blood collected saves up to three lives. The UK needs 200,000 new donors every year to maintain supply. To date there have been ten Blood Donation Sessions at the Shree Swaminarayan Mandir Kingsbury:

Our global spiritual leader Acharya Swamishree Maharaj promotes selfless giving as a primary duty for all people. He has campaigned all over the world for people to donate blood and sign up to organ donor registers. He has not only dispelled myths and taboos about donating blood and organs amongst the Hindu community, but has explained that it is one’s obligation to do so if you can.