As reported by Shobana Kesava
938LIVE! Mediacorp Radio
Sat, 25 June 2005

NMP Eunice Olsen and national team goalkeeper Lionel Lewis have been appointed the first youth ambassadors for the National Blood Programme.\r\n\r\nThe Singapore Red Cross believes the two will be able to inspire youths to sign on as blood donors for life.\r\n\r\nMs Olsen on her expectations.

“We’re trying to get the youth to be 50 percent of the total population of blood donors. As you can see a lot of the donors now especially the long term donors are going into their 40s and their 50s. I think you need to build them up at a very young age. You need to get the youth involved in blood donation right from the start. So you have a long term and a sustainable process and I think a lot of our youths have a lot of compassion to donate blood.”

Ms Olsen was at the Champion Blood Donor Recognition Ceremony, which saw 173 awards given out to regular blood donors. One of them was Mr Raoul Sequira, who has donated 153 units of blood – or a bag of blood plasma every month for nearly 30 years.

“Well one fine day when I was 19 or 20 years old, they requested a need for blood donors and just went and took my motorcycle and went and started donating and never stopped since. Just on my own volition. Just wanted to do something and thought it was healthy and the back of my mind was if ever ever I want blood I don’t have to feel guilty if I have to take blood because I know I’ve given enough. I can’t take back anymore than I’ve given anyway.”

Mr Joshua Choo, who’s donated 154 units of blood, intends to keep going.

“It’s a challenge to myself. I always set a target for myself and try to achieve it. It was 150 and now it’s 200. I should do that before I reach the age of 60. I’m 54.”