Bring it on Port Macquarie Hastings Council. This mantra will be on the minds of MidCoast Council staff for the next three months in the Councils Blood Challenge.
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Bragging rights are on the line as the councils battle to secure the most blood donations between July 1 and September 30.
The challenge is a nationwide event for all local government agencies. It aims to support the service through winter, its most difficult time of the year for securing donations.
Council staff rolled up their sleeves at the Taree donation centre on Thursday, July 4 to kick off the campaign.
The community is encouraged to get involved. Donors can ask that their donation count towards the council's tally.
While donating plasma for the first time, general manager Adrian Panuccio called on locals to help save lives.
"We're hoping to encourage people to donate blood, it's painless and easy to do.
"It benefits the community and it helps people more than the individual.
"Due to many regular donors coming down with either a cold or flu, donation rates drop drastically across the winter months, but of course the need for blood is still there," Mr Panuccio said.
Last year, MidCoast Council's tally totaled 5422 donations in 12 weeks. This meant up to 16266 lives were saved.
The challenge coincides with the Red25 initiative. This program involves workplaces, community groups and universities across Australia uniting to donate blood.