ARMY wins Red Cross Blood Challenge
Results are out for the 2017 Defence Blood Challenge – and Army was the clear winner.
Defence personnel across the country gave a total of 7351 donations, up 5% on 2016.
And, while the Red Cross are (publicly) delighted with the numbers, I wonder am I the only one who thinks 7351 donations from an organisation nudging 100,000 employees is a bit light? And, remember, some people give blood more than once per year!
I will confess I have been very slack in the past. I gave blood once last year – for the first time in about 20 years.
But, I promise to be better this year. In fact, I’ve put it in my diary to donate each time a new CONTACT magazine is published – i.e. four times per year.
If I stick to that, I reckon I can beat Defence Health, who registered a paltry 3 units this past year. Now if that ain’t ironic!
The Winners of the 2017, Key Awards Categories
| AWARDED TO | TOTAL DONATIONS | LIVES SAVED |
|---|---|---|
| Army | 2,698 | 8,094 |
| AWARDED TO | TOTAL DONATIONS | PERCENTAGE |
|---|---|---|
| Air Force | 1,197 | 13.5% |
| AWARDED TO | 2017 DONATIONS | 2016 DONATIONS | PERCENTAGE |
|---|---|---|---|
| Navy | 1,537 | 1,419 | 8.3% |
| AWARDED TO | NEW DONORS |
|---|---|
| Army | 138 |
Thank You for Defending Australia’s Blood Supply!
The challenge is over, but the need remains…
Although it’s fun to be competitive – a blood feud, if you will – the need for blood is year-round and deadly serious.
On behalf of all those whom your donations helped – including my daughter Leane Townrow who required 5 units on New Years Eve after the difficult deliver of my new granddaughter, Zoe – THANK YOU!
| RED25 GROUP | DONATIONS | LIVES SAVED |
|---|---|---|
| Army | 2,698 | 8,094 |
| Air Force (RAAF) | 1,917 | 5,751 |
| Navy | 1,537 | 4,611 |
| Defence Public Servants (APS) | 853 | 2,559 |
| ASC Pty Ltd | 168 | 504 |
| Defence Science and Technology Group (DST Group) | 105 | 315 |
| Defence Force Recruiting | 43 | 129 |
| Defence Housing Australia (DHA) | 14 | 42 |
| Defence Contractors | 11 | 33 |
| Defence Health | 3 | 9 |
| Defence Community Organisation | 2 | 6 |
But this mission isn’t over
Australia needs 25,000 donations each week to meet its blood-supply needs.
Every time you donate blood, your gift can save up to three lives – and your donations will be added to your service’s tally throughout the year.
The next Defence Blood Challenge has already begun (1 December) and will conclude on Saturday, 8 December 2018.
So roll your sleeves up ADF and start bleeding.
I for one intend to participate more often this year. My personal goal is to singlehandedly beat Defence Health 😉 ––– Challenge set!!!
Brian Hartigan
CONTACT Editor
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What a bunch of weak pussies.
Start thinking about your fellow servicemen and women
and Defence Health you are an absolute disgrace.
My next donation will be my 150th….F……G wake up!!
hey Brian Im sure that if you donate plazma you could give up to once a fortnight so would be possible to do about 20 donations in a year, plus 1 or 2 whole blood) that would get you ahead of the competition! but you have to sit in the chair for close to an hour instead the whole blood 5 or 6 mins
Thanks Anon. I will look into that. Anything to win!!!
Wholeheartedly agree Mr Hartigan! Very poor effort by Defence Health in the stats but people probably and hopefully donate as individuals, just not stating they work for Defence Health.
Yeah, you’re right. I’m sure (or at least hope) that individuals donate blood independent of the ‘challenge’ – giving blood without adding their donation to the team. But, if that’s the case, maybe there’s a failure of internal comms where the staff don’t know the ‘company’ is registered as a team.
Anyway, it’s all just good fun – gives me a target (and a headline if I beat them).
And, maybe if Defence Health sees my challenge, they’ll redouble their effort to stay ahead of me – in which case, the Red Cross wins 😉 and all’s good.