Critical Christmas giving

We have reached that time of year when giving is paramount in our thinking. Gifts for family, friends, clients and colleagues are a wonderful part of our end of year celebrations; the spirit of Christmas.

Tragically, this is also the time of year where blood supplies reach their highest level of demand and often their lowest level of supply. Many regular donors are away on holidays and the road toll rises as blood supply levels fall.

Local community radio station Alive 90.5 is spearheading a drive for people to give blood, especially new donors. Sadly, in Australia there are fewer donors than recipients for life saving blood and blood products; a situation we, as a community can easily remedy. It's simple, go and donate blood.

The Parramatta Chamber supports the Alive 90.5 initiative. As a community radio station they are very busy in the community and were great supporters of the recent Western Sydney Awards in Business Excellence and are active supporters of a number of community initiatives.

So to all our members, and readers of this column, please give blood this Christmas; what better gift could there be than saving the life of a stranger.

Trevor Oldfield

President