Fieldays Becomes The Nation's Latest Blood Centre

Friday 15 June

For Immediate Release

Fieldays Becomes The Nation's Latest Blood Donor Centre

New Zealand's depleted blood supplies are to receive a much needed boost thanks to ANZ the principal sponsors of the National Agricultural Fieldays currently on at Mystery Creek.

In response to yesterday's appeal by the New Zealand Blood Service, ANZ staff at the Fieldays have arranged for a team of people from the Blood Service to set up a donation centre on the Village Green at the centre of the Mystery Creek site on Saturday. ANZ staff also contacted the New Zealand Army, which has donated the use of one of their tents to house the blood donation centre.

Close to 40,000 people are expected to attend the Fieldays on Saturday, the final day of the event. These people will provide a huge potential donor pool to help boost the national blood inventory.

"As the major sponsor of the largest event in the country at the moment we saw an opportunity to help out and we hope people make use of the chance to become donors," ANZ Bank Managing Director Dr Murray Horn, said at Mystery Creek today.

New Zealand Blood Service National Medical Director, Dr Peter Flanagan, said being able to have a presence at the Fieldays would be a big help.

"We expect to collect a significant amount of blood on Saturday, but equally important is the opportunity to encourage the thousands of people from across the country who stop by to donate in the future," said Dr Flanagan.

For information on donating please ring 0800 GIVEBLOOD (0800 448 325).

ENDS

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