A READING couple are supporting an important NHS campaign to get more men in the south east to donate blood during 2020.

There is currently a vital need for more men in the region to start donating blood because of a serious imbalance in the gender of new donors.

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During 2019, only 40 per cent of the new donors in the South East were men.

Until the end of November, 12,408 women started donating blood in the East of England but only 8,727 men.

The imbalance reflects a national trend.

This is a concern because men have higher iron levels, and only men's blood which can be used for some transfusions and products.

The NHS say that, without more men starting to give blood, blood stocks will come under increasing pressure in future years.

Throughout January, NHS Blood and Transplant (NHSBT) is running a national campaign about ordinary men becoming extraordinary by donating blood.

NHSBT is aiming for 48 per cent of all new donors in the South East to be male during 2020.

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Reading Chronicle:

Josh and Anna Boggi from Reading are supporting the campaign.

Afghanistan veteran Josh needed 21 units of O negative blood after a head on collision with a lorry.

Josh, whose legs and right arm were amputated after he stepped on an IED on New Year's Eve 2010, had accident after his front tyre burst in September 2019, while was cycling in Spain.

He was heading downhill on his specially adapted bike and the collision had a total speed of around 60km/h.

He suffered a broken hip and his left leg was shattered, meaning another 15cm needed to be amputated from his leg.

The accident happened while they were cycling with a group of friends and Josh needed 10 units of blood in Spain.

He was flown back to the UK and had more blood at Salisbury Hospital.

Reading Chronicle:

Josh is a former blood donor who has O negative blood himself, though he can no longer donate due to the transfusions he received after the Afghanistan injuries.

His wife Anna said: "We will forever be grateful to those who have donated the blood Josh received.

"Without blood donors, he would not be here.

"People think blood donation is ordinary but it makes an extraordinary difference and I hope more men register as donors this January."

Mike Stredder, the head of donor recruitment for NHS Blood and Transplant, said: "All our donors are amazing.

"But we need more men to start donating blood in the South East during the New Year.

"Men's blood can be used in extraordinary, lifesaving ways, but we don't have enough new male donors coming forward.

"This is not about recruiting as many donors as possible – it's about getting the right gender mix.

"If you can't find an appointment right away don't worry – your blood will do extraordinary things if you donate in a few weeks instead."