Post by starshining on Oct 13, 2006 21:34:42 GMT 1
THEIR TV families may be at war, but Emmerdale stars Lucy Pargeter and Tom Lister proved they can still share a pint or two – of blood, that is.
Lucy and Tom, who play feuding couple Chas Dingle and Carl King in the ITV1 soap, visited the newly-renamed Seacroft Donor Centre to give blood as part of a campaign to encourage more people to donate.
The launch comes just days after the YEP revealed that the neighbouring processing and testing centre may be forced to close.
However, the blood unit will remain open and more people are needed to come to the centre, on Bridle Path, off York Road, to donate a pint of the red stuff.
Altogether, the National Blood Service (NBS) needs 8,000 voluntary donations of blood each day – but only five per cent of the eligible population are active donors.
Lucy said: "You just assume that blood's going to be there for you when you need it. I've been fortunate that neither myself or my family have ever needed it, but that day will come and when it does, we will be so grateful to those who have donated.
"Giving blood is so easy to do and it's so important - I hope to do it a lot more regularly now."
While at the centre, Tom also donated platelets, which are used to help patients such as Judith Heppenstall, who was diagnosed with leukaemia in 2002, at the age of 39.
Judith, who lives in Holmfirth, is now in remission and told the YEP she would not have survived without the generosity of blood and platelet donors.
She said: "It's vital that people come down to give blood. It's the greatest gift you can give - you're helping to save a life."
NBS spokeswoman Vicki Hutchinson added: "We hope this re-launch of the donor centre will make more potential Leeds donors aware of the centre's location as well as encourage more regular whole blood donors to consider becoming platelet donors.
"We are hoping that with Tom and Lucy's help the re-launch will be a huge success and many more Leeds donors will use the centre to help save lives."
To be a blood donor you need to be aged between 17 and 60, to weigh over 7st 12lbs and to be in general good health.
For more information call the national helpline on 0845 7711 711 or visit www.blood.co.uk.
suzanne.mctaggart@ypn.co.uk
Lucy and Tom, who play feuding couple Chas Dingle and Carl King in the ITV1 soap, visited the newly-renamed Seacroft Donor Centre to give blood as part of a campaign to encourage more people to donate.
The launch comes just days after the YEP revealed that the neighbouring processing and testing centre may be forced to close.
However, the blood unit will remain open and more people are needed to come to the centre, on Bridle Path, off York Road, to donate a pint of the red stuff.
Altogether, the National Blood Service (NBS) needs 8,000 voluntary donations of blood each day – but only five per cent of the eligible population are active donors.
Lucy said: "You just assume that blood's going to be there for you when you need it. I've been fortunate that neither myself or my family have ever needed it, but that day will come and when it does, we will be so grateful to those who have donated.
"Giving blood is so easy to do and it's so important - I hope to do it a lot more regularly now."
While at the centre, Tom also donated platelets, which are used to help patients such as Judith Heppenstall, who was diagnosed with leukaemia in 2002, at the age of 39.
Judith, who lives in Holmfirth, is now in remission and told the YEP she would not have survived without the generosity of blood and platelet donors.
She said: "It's vital that people come down to give blood. It's the greatest gift you can give - you're helping to save a life."
NBS spokeswoman Vicki Hutchinson added: "We hope this re-launch of the donor centre will make more potential Leeds donors aware of the centre's location as well as encourage more regular whole blood donors to consider becoming platelet donors.
"We are hoping that with Tom and Lucy's help the re-launch will be a huge success and many more Leeds donors will use the centre to help save lives."
To be a blood donor you need to be aged between 17 and 60, to weigh over 7st 12lbs and to be in general good health.
For more information call the national helpline on 0845 7711 711 or visit www.blood.co.uk.
suzanne.mctaggart@ypn.co.uk