"Blood donors are lifesavers"

"A little prick for a blood donation doesn't hurt, but their blood donation can save lives," were the words of Thomas Kerkhoff, Mayor of the City of Bocholt and Chairman of the Board of the DRK-Stadtverband Bocholt, on the occasion of this year's blood donor honour at the premises of the German Red Cross on Goerdeler Straße.

As a sign of thanks for their willingness to donate, the DRK Bocholt city association had invited them to a cosy evening with dinner.

Kerkhoff thanked all the blood donors because "through their donation of blood, they have contributed to ensuring the supply of vital blood products to patients in our home region." Without blood donors, he said, our health system would be missing a vital part. Kerkhoff: "Our appreciation for you as blood donors is of great importance to us in the DRK, because blood donors are life savers."

The WDR short film from the "Sendung mit der Maus" ("Programme with the Mouse"), which was shown during the evening, met with lively interest. Based on the regular blood needs of a little girl, the film vividly shows how a blood donation takes place, how the blood is processed in the laboratory and into which components the blood is separated for the different purposes.

Anyone who would like to volunteer with the German Red Cross in Bocholt - for example, to donate blood, in the ambulance and rescue service, in the work with senior citizens, in first aid training, in the service for the elderly and nursing, etc. - can apply at the secretary's office of the German Red Cross in Bocholt. -Please contact the office of the Bocholt chapter of the German Red Cross (DRK) at 02871 24116-0 or by e-mail at info(at)drk-bocholt(dot)de.