Blood donor joins 250 club

Royal Australian Air Force Flight Sergeant Christine Williams notched up an impressive milestone by giving her 250th blood donation recently in Canberra.

CAPTION: Flight Sergeant Christine Williams, with her husband Warren, at the Lifeblood Canberra Garran Donor Centre on the occasion of her 250th blood donation. Story by John Noble. Photo by Flight Sergeant Kev Berriman.

With the 2022 Defence Blood Challenge having just kicked off, Flight Sergeant Williams hopes her altruism will inspire colleagues and others to also give blood and help save lives.

“I’m very proud that I‘ve been able to reach 250 donations and that I am able to donate,” Flight Sergeant Williams said.

“I know not everyone is able to donate and I feel grateful that I can help people.

“Each donation saves three lives, so over my span of donations I’ve been able to help 750 people during their various treatments.”

Christine has been donating whole blood, plasma and platelets for 16 years, and for the past seven years has been consistently donating vital plasma and whole blood on request by Lifeblood.

Flight Sergeant Williams said that while it’s an individual choice to give blood and blood products, she believes it is a great way for Australian Defence Force personnel to assist the wider community.

“Donating blood is an easy way to help people with a variety of health conditions,” she said.

“It doesn’t take much time out of the day, but it does really benefit the Red Cross in providing a product that is used in many ways to a wide range of recipients.

“I met a plasma recipient in 2016 and heard how, without donors, they wouldn’t be alive today. This was significant because as a donor, you rarely hear how your donation impacts recipients’ lives.

“Donating blood is a simple process and means so much to the recipients. It really can be the difference between life and death.”

The Blood Challenge runs from September 1 through to December 8 and anyone wishing to register can do so through the Australian Red Cross Lifeblood at www.lifeblood.com.au.

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