26 September 2023

Defence lays down blood challenge

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Chief of Air Force, Air Marshal Mel Hupfeld (seated) donates blood under the watchful eye of Chief of Navy, Vice Admiral Michael Noonan (right). Photo: Corporal Julia Whitwell.

Australia’s Defence Forces have declared a friendly, if bloody, war on each other, launching their annual blood donation challenge for 2019.

With more than 8,500 donations made during the 2018 challenge, Chief of Air Force, Air Marshal Mel Hupfeld said Defence was aiming to step up to the plate and give blood or plasma more than 9,000 times this year.

“Through the Defence Blood Challenge, we have the opportunity to draw on our commitment to serve and make a life-saving impact in our community,” Air Marshal Hupfeld said.

“A single blood donation can save the lives of up to three Australians and the gift of plasma can be used to treat a range of patients, helping those with serious burns, cancer or brain disease.”

He said the demand for blood and plasma continued to grow so there was always more to do.

Air Marshal Hupfeld was joined by the Chief of Navy, Vice Admiral Michael Noonan and Army Headquarters Chief of Staff, Brigadier Kahlil Fegan in setting the example, rolling up their sleeves to give the first donations of the challenge.

Blood Challenge Ambassador, Squadron Leader Brad Horton said plasma donations had saved his 18-year-old daughter’s life last year.

“Lauren started having mild respiratory difficulty over a couple of months, until one morning she was so short of breath that she couldn’t get out of bed,” Squadron Leader Horton said.

A week of uncertainty tormented the Horton family until doctors administered a plasma transfusion, which started to improve Lauren’s condition.

After two weeks, several tests and their results, doctors diagnosed Lauren with Goodpasture syndrome which caused her white blood cells to attack her lungs.

“She needed regular plasma transfusions, receiving 48 over a three-month period,” Squadron Leader Horton said.

“I figured out that it took about 240 plasma donations to keep her alive and she was just one of many who were in need of treatment.”

The challenge, Australia’s longest-running annual blood drive, will run until 8 December.

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