THURSDAY July 31 is Bloody Good Human Day and Simon “Simmo” Braun hopes to see the national record broken for the highest number of blood and plasma donations made in one day by a single team.
The date marks the end of Simmo’s year-long epic road trip.
He and his three kids have been caravanning across the country, visiting every Lifeblood Donor Centre on a mission to raise awareness for blood donation.
While one in three Australians need blood, only one in 50 donate, “so we now import nearly half our supply”, Simmo said.
Simmo passed through Coffs Harbour last August encouraging locals to get on board “The Bloody Good Tour”.
“While I haven’t experienced the need for blood myself, I have faced some deeply personal challenges, and I found regular blood donation positively impacted my mental health.
“I’ve experienced tough times, just like everyone else, and as a blood donor the lifesaving part of my identity lifts my spirits.”
Red Cross Emergency Services volunteer Judith Jackson of Woolgoolga, and Sam Newman and Emily Berry of the Woolgoolga Backpackers’ are championing the call-out for Bloody Good Humans to help Simmo break a record at Coffs Harbour Donor centre.
Ms Jackson became a blood donor when the call went out after the Granville Train disaster in 1977.
Since then she has needed her own lifesaving donations on a couple of occasions.
She has continued to donate blood and plasma, knowing it will save many lives, and is fired-up to help Simmo champion the cause.
“It’s such an easy thing to do and doesn’t take too much time.
“The power of giving and the thought of me, an ordinary person, saving someone else’s life; that’s what I love and that’s what keeps me going back.”
Woopi Backpackers’ Sam Newman has a similar story and has got behind the Bloody Good Humans Day record breaking attempt.
After meeting Simmo last year when the campaign launched this brought him back to donating and now he is only too happy to roll up his sleeve again for the record attempt.
Ms Berry, who has never donated before due to medical reasons said “when Sam put his hand up, I checked with my Doctor and received the okay to donate”.
In addition to this, she has encouraged a group of Berry Picker guests to attend with them.
Ms Jackson is thrilled that the Woopi business will be joining her on the day and would like to see more businesses and Donor Teams follow suit to get Coffs Harbour Lifeblood on the map.
“Donor numbers are down so what better time to start giving to help break a record nationally,” she said.
“Let’s join The Bloody Good Humans Day and donate together on July 31”.
To book an appointment go to lifeblood.com.au/donor-centre.
By Andrea FERRARI
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