TOOWOOMBA’S real estate fraternity comes together to donate valuable blood at the Australian Red Cross Blood Service.

TOOWOOMBA’S top real estate agencies have joined forces this festive season to save lives, committing to give blood more than 60 times.

The festive season is a time when Australia’s blood supply typically comes under pressure, with the Toowoomba Blood Donor Centre urging existing and new donors to roll up their sleeves and donate blood.

A chance meeting at a Toowoomba Chamber of Commerce event between David Snow, REIQ Toowoomba Zone Chairman and co-principal of Peter Snow & Co. Real Estate and Sandee Thompson from the Blood Service, started a discussion about the need for more donors for this life-saving service.

"Sandee and I saw a wonderful opportunity for the Toowoomba real estate profession to give something more powerful than money in the lead-up to Christmas, and we’ve been overwhelmed by the outstanding support from the local real estate sector for this Challenge," he said.

Twelve real estate agencies responded to the challenge, making over 60 appointments at Toowoomba Blood Donor Centre throughout November and December, helping to ensure the Australian Red Cross Blood Service maintains strong supplies of blood and blood products during this time.

Blood Service spokesperson Sandee Thompson said the short shelf-life of blood means the need is constant.

"The need for blood never goes away, which is why support from local businesses through blood drives and challenges like the Toowoomba Real Estate Blood Challenge, is so important," she said.

"We need 3370 donations of whole blood and plasma in Toowoomba between now and 7 January just to meet patient demand.

"Every donation helps to save three lives, including the lives of cancer patients, people with blood disorders, unborn babies, mothers during childbirth, trauma victims and many more."

The Toowoomba Real Estate Blood Challenge is a key part of the Blood Service’s Red25 program, a unique movement in which groups and organisations around Australia unite to save lives through blood donation.

Red25 has a clear and concise mission – to achieve 25 per cent of Australia’s blood donations.

"It is easy to take for granted that at any time in our lives if we require blood, it will be there, but Australia’s blood supply relies on just a small number of donors.

“The figures are astounding, 1 in 3 people will need donated blood in their lifetime, yet only 1 in 30 people donate blood," Ms Thompson said.

To find out more about Red25 then please visit www.donateblood.org.au/red25

If you’d like to make an appointment to give blood - then simply call 13 14 95 or go to the website www.donateblood.com.au for more information.

We need 3370 donations of whole blood and plasma in Toowoomba between now and 7 January just to meet patient demand.

PHOTO: CONTRIBUTED Century 21 salesperson Matthew Nichols, Peter Snow (Peter Snow and Co) and McGrath principal Toby Sandell.

PHOTO: CONTRIBUTED Sales person Deborah McKeon (Ray White Toowoomba), Melissa and Malinda Southwell.

PHOTO: CONTRIBUTED Toowoomba City Realty principal Michael Teahan, Ray White Toowoomba principal Lindsey Southwell and RE/MAX principal Daniel Burrett.

PHOTO: CONTRIBUTED David Snow (Peter Snow and Co) joined with Australian Red Cross Blood Service community relations officer Sandee Thompson, Toowoomba City Realty buying agent Christina Douglas and LJ Hooker director Julie Stewart to donate valuable blood.