Successful Cycle Tour Boosts Blood Donation

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Media Release
12 October 2005

Successful Cycle Tour Boosts Blood Donation

Hundreds of New Zealanders have been affected by Frenchman Julien Leblay’s cycle tour of the North Island to increase awareness of the New Zealand Blood Service’s desperate need for blood donors.

Covering almost 3000kms, the successful tour ran for a grueling 43 days from 2 September – 12 October 2005. Julien encouraged members of the public to give blood in each destination and the New Zealand Blood Service has reported an increase in donor activity.

The New Zealand Blood Service’s Marketing Manager, Paul Hayes, says the tour has been very successful. “We are delighted with the support that New Zealanders have given Julien along the way,” he says. “This selfless act has helped us to raise awareness and we are pleased to see that so many people took Julien up on his challenge and donated blood.”

An official welcome back celebration takes place tomorrow at 10.30am at the Epsom Blood Donor Centre, 71 Great South Road and at this time, Julien will make his first ever blood donation.

Incredibly, less than 5% of New Zealanders give blood, but a whopping 80% of Kiwis will need blood or blood products during their lifetime.

Every week the New Zealand Blood Service, a non-profit organisation, needs to collect more than 3,000 whole blood donations to meet the needs of patients throughout New Zealand.

ENDS

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