By Karen Johnson, BBC News, West of England
NHS Blood and TransplantA mother who had an emergency blood transfusion while giving birth is encouraging more people to donate through her love of dance.
Princess Green, 32, who lives in Oxford, will perform a traditional Zambian dance at Bristol Afrofest on Saturday as part of her ‘Dance2Donate’ campaign.
Mrs Green said the “gift of blood changed everything” for her after she lost more than three litres while giving birth to her now six-year-old son Leonard.
She said: “Through dance, I can show how alive and joyous I am and it’s all because of donors. So what better way to bring my campaign to life?”
A recent study by the NHS has revealed that “life-saving donors” are needed every six minutes in the South West.
Mrs Green said that until her labour, the concept of a transfusion “was foreign to me”.
The mum-of-two added: “I whispered a prayer for the people who donated and told my midwife I’d be donating as soon as I could.”
But she was then “disappointed” to find out she could not be a donor herself.
She said that is when she decided to focus on what she could do to inspire others.
NHS Blood and TransplantOriginally an artist from Zambia, Mrs Green is now committed to raising awareness of the need for more blood donors.
“I dance every day, but I wouldn’t be dancing if it wasn’t for donors,” she said.
“My vision is for Dance2Donate to inspire 15 people to give blood.
“Because every donation can save or improve three lives, that’s 45 people given the chance to go on to live their lives fully.”
While all blood types are encouraged, O negative, O positive and black heritage donors remain in constant demand, NHS Blood and Transplant said.
Black heritage donors are required to provide ethnically matched blood for people with sickle cell, the fastest-growing blood disorder in the UK.
‘Demand never stops’
Hospitals currently require 250 donations a day.
Director of blood supply at NHS Blood and Transplant, Paul O’Brien, said the demand for blood “never stops”.
“Right now we especially need more people in the South West with the critical O negative or O positive types to come in and donate,” he said.
“Giving blood is quick and easy, and you will save lives.”