Valentina Borbone has rolled up her sleeve to donate whole blood and plasma for the last 29 years.
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The Bowral resident first stepped into a donation centre at the age of 17 with a work colleague.
"It was just an epiphany," she said.
"I could not fathom the thought of a family with someone in hospital, and that someone does not want to give blood."
Ever since, the 46-year-old has been "religiously" making appointments to donate.
Ms Borbone has donated at Bowral Swimming Centre's mobile clinic and commuted to Wollongong to donate plasma.
"It's a community issue that everyone can contribute to," she said.
Australia needs 31,000 blood donations a week for transfusions and research.
"It is so simple, and it can have an enormous impact," Ms Borbone added.
She discovered she had a personal link to the cause after discovering she was born with jaundice, and required a blood transfusion.
"I never made the connection with that when I was younger," she said.
"It was something I grew up hearing about but it did not impact my decision to donate.
"The blood donation form asked if I was born with jaundice, or had a blood transfusion.
"Blood transfusions for jaundice were a process back then, and it is something we take for granted now."
According to Australian Red Cross' Life Blood, only three per cent of Australians donate blood per year, despite one in three Australians needing blood or blood products throughout their life.
Ms Borbone's message to people who are yet to dip their toe into the world of donating is simple - roll up your sleeve.
"It is quick, and you will feel good doing it," she said.
Blood plasma can be used for cancer, anemia, heart disease, stomach disease, blood disease, kidney disease, blood loss, trauma burns, operations and childbirth.
People can call 13 14 95 to schedule an appointment or go to donateblood.com.au for further information.
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Briannah Devlin
I like to write about arts, entertainment, any local reality tv leads, and property for the Southern Highland News and Goulburn Post, but also report on everything in between. If you have any tips, please send them to Briannah.Devlin@austcommunitymedia.com.au, or call 0439142204.
I like to write about arts, entertainment, any local reality tv leads, and property for the Southern Highland News and Goulburn Post, but also report on everything in between. If you have any tips, please send them to Briannah.Devlin@austcommunitymedia.com.au, or call 0439142204.
