Blacktown City Council and the Australian Red Cross Blood Service have teamed up again this year to help save lives through blood donations.
Blacktown City Mayor Stephen Bali MP is encouraging Council staff and Blacktown City residents to roll up their sleeves and donate blood as part of the annual Red Cross Red25 Council Blood Challenge.
Mayor Bali said, "Last year Blacktown City Council took out the top national award for saving the most lives.
"As a council we made 268 blood donations helping to save 804 lives across Australia. This was an increase of 246 lives saved from the year before.
"This year our goal is to reach 300 blood donations from Blacktown City Council."
Last year Blacktown City Council also had the most number of new donors nationwide with 59 staff members giving blood for the first time.
The challenge is open to anyone who works for Council or who lives in Blacktown City. Donors simply need to ask that their blood donation be recorded on Blacktown City Council's tally when they give blood.
"This year we are also aiming to increase our plasma donations," Mayor Bali said.
"The demand for plasma is growing rapidly. Plasma can be used to treat numerous medical conditions including brain disorders or immune deficiencies and in restoring blood volume in the treatment of shock or burns.
"This is the fourth year that Blacktown City Council has participated in the Red25 Council Blood Challenge and we hope it will be the greatest year yet," Mayor Bali said.
"Donating blood doesn't take long and you could save three lives in the process. I encourage everyone who can, to take part in this challenge."
The mobile blood donor van will be a regular visitor to Blacktown, Rouse Hill, Plumpton and Marsden Park from July through to September.
Blood donations from councils during this period each year are recorded and the council with the most blood donations wins the challenge.
To donate blood please visit: https://www.donateblood.com.au/
