Lee and Palmer visited the centre in St George's Square
Hatters pair Olly Lee and Ollie Palmer paid a visit to the Luton Blood Donor Centre in St George’s Square yesterday as the Centre encouraged Town supporters to sign up and help save people’s lives.
Fewer that 3% of people who are able to donate actually do so, with only 1% of donors going on to give blood 100 times or more.
(Pictured from left to right: Olly Lee, Ant Geary, Matt Speight, Ollie Palmer. Ant has now made over 250 donations, a figure which means he could have potentially saved over 750 adult lives)
Lee and Palmer watched on as Centre Manager Emma Martin made a donation – enough blood to help up to three adults, seven children and 12 babies.
(Pictured: Olly Lee and Ollie Palmer talk to Luton's Blood Donor Centre manager, Emma Martin, as she gives blood)
She said: “It was really good to see the players come down and take time out of their schedules and give us some of their time to see how the blood donation process works.
“It would be fantastic if Luton Town supporters could come down to the centre and donate, you can register online through our website www.blood.co.uk and get an appointment to donate here at Luton donor centre.”
That message was echoed by Michelle Laserna, Senior Marketing Officer at NHS Blood and Transplant.
"Our loyal donors are very special to us, which is why such an event gives us the opportunity to say a real heartfelt thanks,” she explained. “Between them, these donors have saved thousands of lives, and improved the lives of countless others, just like Luton Town supporter Matt Speight, who suffered from a perpherated ulcer in his stomach. He lost six units of blood and needed four units of blood during a life-saving operation.
(Pictured: Town supporter Matt Speight accompanied by Lee and Palmer. Two years ago, were it not for donated blood, Matt would have lost his life)
"We would like to welcome new and existing donors to donate at Luton donor centre, which is located at St George’s Square, Luton. To find out more about how you could start saving lives and book your first appointment visit www.blood.co.uk or call 0300 123 23 23.”