MORE than 1,000 lives may have been saved thanks to kind-hearted readers who have pledged their support to The Gazette's Life-Blood Campaign.

Since the launch of the campaign in January, a total of 451 generous people from Basingstoke and north Hampshire have either given blood for the first time or have started giving blood again after not donating for at least two years.

With each donation having the potential to save up to three lives, this means that 1,353 people's lives could have been saved thanks to this local effort.

On top of this, the National Blood Service (NBS) - which organises donor sessions and collects, processes and distributes blood across the country - has received 51 donor recruitment coupons which were printed in The Gazette at the start of the campaign.

Everyone who has completed a coupon and returned it to the NBS has registered their interest in obtaining regular information about donor sessions in their area.

Louise Coxon, spokeswoman for the National Blood Service in Basingstoke, said: "The response we have had to The Gazette's campaign so far has been fantastic.

"This is helping to boost the number of active blood donors in the area and, ultimately, is great news for the many patients who depend on blood transfusions as part of their medical treatment.

"We are looking forward to welcoming these new and returning donors to future sessions and hope they will become regular life-savers.

"We would like to thank all of our donors for their patience and goodwill at sessions they have attended this year, and throughout the years, because we know they are taking some time out of their busy lives to selflessly help save the lives of others.

"Their dedication to saving and improving lives is greatly appreciated."

Gazette Newspapers editor Mark Jones said: "I would like to thank all the readers who have responded to our Life-Blood Campaign so far - they are all making a big difference and are helping to save lives.

"The campaign will continue throughout this year and I hope that many more people will either give blood for the first time or start giving blood again as a result of it."

For more information about giving blood, check out the Life-Blood section of this website or visit www.blood.co.uk

First published: Thursday, April 20, 2006