INSTEAD of giving something up this new year, we’re asking your readers to give blood.

Donating blood saves lives. It’s an easy resolution to keep and is easy to get started.

During 2013, blood donors across England and north Wales helped save and transform the lives of hundreds of thousands of patients within the NHS and we are grateful to each and every one of them for taking the time to donate.

We’re looking forward to welcoming them again into our donation sessions in 2014.

But there will be lots of your readers who haven’t donated before, or haven’t done so for a while, and we’re asking them to come forward and register as a blood donor. Becoming a donor is easy. Visit blood.co.uk, register and book an appointment at a local session. Please encourage your readers to make an important resolution this year. To save lives as a blood donor.

JON LATHAM, assistant director of marketing, NHS Blood and Transplant.