Dunmore Lang College students rolled up their sleeves on 3 and 4 September for a two-day Blood Drive organised by the Charity Committee. Students were encouraged to donate blood and make a potentially lifesaving difference to others in their community. Students were able to earn valuable floor points by donating at any blood donation centre and submitting their booking confirmation. This made it easy for students to get involved, whether they could attend one of the organised college opportunities. Alternatively, they could donate at a centre closer to them.
The college also took advantage of a major university blood drive held at the library. A mobile donor centre was set up for students. Seven students travelled to Chatswood to donate. A further 16 students donated at the university centre, showing strong participation across the college.
“When I saw other people from my floor going to donate blood and plasma, I wanted to get involved too and do my part.”
– Ollie Slade, Current First Year Student at DLC
“It’s really rewarding for me knowing that I can donate for those who can’t.”
– Samra Tarrant, Current First Year Student at DLC
Additionally, to recognise and celebrate the commitment of donating, students could also receive badges showing how many times they had donated blood. The initiative helped highlight that blood donation is not just a one-off contribution. It showed students that donating blood is something they can continue to do throughout their lives. The recent event at Bondi also brought renewed awareness to the importance of having adequate blood supplies available when emergencies occur.
Why Give Blood?
One key message behind the Blood Drive was that donating blood is a simple way to make a significant difference. A donation takes around 30 minutes and can help save up to six lives. This means a small investment of time can have an enormous impact on someone else’s life. The Charity Committee made donating easy to participate in and incentivised students through the floor points system. This created a sense of friendly competition while encouraging students to contribute to an important cause.
The Blood Drive demonstrated the power of collective action at Dunmore Lang College. Whether students travelled to Chatswood, visited the university’s mobile donor centre or made their own booking at a donation centre, each contribution helped show that sometimes just a little of your time can make a very big difference to someone else’s life. A special thank you goes to Zoe and Phoebe from the Charity Committee for their hard work in organising and supporting the Blood Drive and helping make the initiative such a success.
