A CAMPAIGN has been launched to get the Droitwich community to donate blood in memory of a young rugby player who passed away in June after battling leukaemia.
James O’Mara, a Minis and Juniors player for Droitwich RFC, needed 89 units of blood during his treatment at Birmingham Children’s Hospital.
Now the club has teamed up with the Bloodwise charity and the NHS Blood and Transplant team and is hoping those associated with the RFC will help donate at least 89 units of blood.
Between 9am and 1pm on Sunday, September 10, there will be a special event at Droitwich Rugby Club to raise awareness of Bloodwise and its work researching all types of blood cancer. No one can give blood on Sunday but the NHS Blood Transplant team will be on hand to advise people how, where and when they can donate blood in Droitwich and Worcestershire in the very near future
Bloodwise will run children’s activities so Mini and Junior (M&J) players and their siblings can learn about the charity and its work.
Last Sunday Droitwich RFC’s M&Js returned to training for the 2017/18 season. It was the first time they had come together since James’ passing and team members held a minutes applause in his memory.
M&J chairman Mark Dodwell told The Standard: “James was a prominent member of last season’s U13 team and we wanted to remember him as a club.
“We were joined by James’ family and it was their wish we paid our respects to James with a minute’s applause.”
Mark said the club had organised the blood giving drive as it wanted to do all it could to help James’ family raise awareness of the importance of blood donation for those battling leukaemia.
“By holding an event at the Rugby Club on Sunday we know we will have a large attendance from our Minis and Juniors parents and we’re hoping other members of the Droitwich public, who have been touched by this story, will come along and support the drive.”
James’ grandmother June O’Mara who used to take him to rugby each week said it was amazing the club was supporting their efforts to raise awareness of blood donation.
“During the week James was in hospital he had to receive so much blood and it isn’t just the blood that’s important, it’s the platelets that are taken from the blood that is vital to those suffering from leukaemia.
“Even if all the other treatment James was receiving at that time had been working it would have been irrelevant if the blood and platelets had not been available so blood donation is absolutely critical to the NHS.”
Anyone who wants to donate but cannot get to Droitwich RFC on Sunday can visit www.blood.co.uk and to www.bloodwise.org.uk for more on Bloodwise.
