As if they don’t do enough to save lives, Melton’s emergency services workers are now rolling up their sleeves to donate blood.
Melton police senior constable Nicola Verbeek said her mum’s life had been saved thanks to the generosity of people who had donated both blood and organs.
And now she’s busy rallying the municipality’s cops, fireys and ambos to join the vanguard of her campaign to promote the importance of donating blood and organs.
“My mum went through a double lung transplant about [five] weeks ago,” senior constable Verbeek said.
“The operation saved my mum’s life, and I’m just trying to do my little bit to try and save someone else’s life.”
The mobile blood bank will be at Melton civic centre all next week offering people a chance to “give a gift” to those who need it most. While emergency service workers are lined up ready to go, senior constable Verbeek is hoping others will “join their ranks” and donate also.
“People might think about [donating blood or organs] in the back of their mind, but I don’t think people are aware of how important it is,” she said.
“My mum wouldn’t have been here if it weren’t for the transplant – it’s a bit overwhelming and a bit emotional to think someone’s been able to save my mum’s life.”
Now, senior constable Verbeek is hoping to encourage others to start the conversation about blood and organ donation, and she’s urging everyone to find out more at donatelife.gov.au
For details or to make an appointment: www.donateblood.com.au/ready-to-donate/donor-centre/melton-mobile-unit
