Sponsored by
Shot in arm for veteran donor
David Copes presents Denise Brisby with her crystal plate for donating blood.
A RYEDALE woman has been honoured for rolling up her sleeves to help save lives.
Veteran blood donor Denise Brisby was recognised by NHS Blood and Transplant (NHSBT) at a recent awards ceremony after she notched up her 75th blood donation.
Only around four per cent of the eligible population give blood and of that number, only two per cent ever reach 75 donations – making it a very rare milestone. Mrs Brisby, of Malton, was presented with a commemorative crystal plate as a thank you for her efforts.
As each blood donation can potentially help save the lives of three people, the 59-year-old may have saved 225 lives over the years.
Mrs Brisby began giving blood 41 years ago and first started as her grandmother was a volunteer with the Women’s Royal Voluntary Service and used to serve tea and biscuits to donors at sessions.
“As a child I used to accompany her to Pickering donation sessions and couldn’t wait until my 18th birthday to start giving blood,” said Mrs Brisby, who works as an accounts operator at Malton Vauxhall dealership JB Motors
Her grandmother, May Carter, of Pickering, was herself presented with an engraved silver dish in 1981 for giving more than 40 years service to the then-Yorkshire Region Blood Transfusion Service.
Like many people, Mrs Brisby, of Pasture Lane, can count at least one family member whose life was saved by blood – her aunt suffered a severe haemorrhage 35 years ago but, thanks to a transfusion, she is still active at 89 years of age.
When asked what she would say to encourage others to follow her example and give blood, she said: “One day, your life might depend on a blood transfusion.”
Presenting her with the award at the ceremony in Harrogate was David Copes who needed 40 units of blood after receiving horrific injuries in a motorcycle accident near Leeds.
The 60-year-old father-of-five from Pontefract, broke his neck, back, pelvis, both legs, ribs, foot, jaw, collar bone and hand in the crash, along with sustaining serious injuries to his kidneys, bladder, liver and lungs.
He spent six months in hospital after the 2007 hit-and-run incident and, even though he is still not fully recovered, helps NHS Blood and Transplant (NHSBT) promote blood donation and recruit new donors.
Darren Bowen, NHSBT’s lead donor relations manager for the Yorkshire area, said: “It’s wonderful that we can call on people like Mrs Brisby who have dedicated themselves to giving blood over so many years and Mr Copes’ story highlights the life-saving role they perform for no reward, other than the knowledge that they are helping others.
“However, every year many existing donors in our region have to stop giving blood due to factors like ill-health and medication, so in order to maintain blood stocks, we constantly need new donors.
The NHSBT invites new donors aged from 17 to 65. Anyone who would like to become a donor can make an appointment or attend a local session either by calling 0300 123 23 23 or logging on to the website at www.blood.co.uk.
Email to a friend
Print this page
Looking for...
Featured advertisers
Jobs
Search for a job
Motors
Search for a car
Property
Search for a house
Weather for Malton
Thursday 24 May 2012
Today
Sunny spells
Temperature: 11 C to 18 C
Wind Speed: 12 mph
Wind direction: North east
Tomorrow
Sunny
Temperature: 11 C to 18 C
Wind Speed: 24 mph
Wind direction: East
Your view
Please sign in to be able to comment on this story.