A blood donation drive by the Harbour City Auto Club in Gladstone is set to become a regular event.

Club member Sonya Waters said the blood drive, dubbed the Blood Thirsty Blood Drive, was a great way to support the community.

“The idea for a club blood run came from our accountant,” Sonya said.

“We decided as a club to give donating together a go.

“We are now wanting to this as an event within our club once or twice a year because the need for blood and blood products is important for our community.”

Ms Waters said donating blood was a perfect fit for the car enthusiasts.

“Many of our members are loyal customers of RACQ as well as of our car club,” she said.

“Organising a group donation at the Gladstone Donor Centre was simple and easy to do, the ladies there are so helpful and were amazing to work with. We are looking forward to our next group donation.”

Australian Red Cross Lifeblood Group Account Manager Rosie Barton said the Lifeblood teams program was unique because it encouraged businesses, community groups and educational facilities to join together and save lives through blood and plasma donation.

“Our Lifeblood teams can track their donation tally online at any time so they can see the impact that they are having together,” Ms Barton said.

“At Gladstone Donor Centre, our Lifeblood teams members make more than 50% of all donations of blood and plasma.

“Each blood donation can save up to three lives, and plasma can be used in 18 different life-giving ways.”

Ms Barton said Australia needed about 33,000 donations a week to meet demand and she urged Queenslander to consider “giving the gift of life this holiday season b donating blood”.

“One in three Australians will need blood or blood products in their lifetime but only one in 30 donate,” she said.

RACQ's Alison Proctor gave blood for the first time.

RACQ supports Lifeblood

In 2022 RACQ staff gave 80 whole blood and 73 plasma donations which could save 459 lives.

In early December, the Red Cross Mobile Blood Donor Centre visited RACQ’s Eight Mile Plains offices.

That visit saw 28 staff give blood, including 14 first-time donors, which helped 84 people in need over the following five days.

First-time donor Alison Proctor had been unable to donate previously because of her United Kingdom heritage.

Until July 2022, people who had spent more than six months in the UK between 1980 and 1996 were not allowed to give blood in Australia because of the possibility they could be carrying ‘mad cow’ disease.

“As a native of the motherland, I couldn't donate before,” Alison said.

“I was very proud when I found out I was A negative, as only six percent of the population are, and to give the gift of life that's pretty special.”

Learn more about donating blood with Red Cross