$5mill funding to help meet demand

THE Red Cross’s Victorian Football and Netball Clubs Blood Challenge has finished with Bellarine Football Netball League clubs ranking among the highest blood donors in the state.

Clubs were encouraged to gets as many players, staff, and supporters as they could to give blood during the three months challenge, which ended last month.

Geelong Amateurs Football and Netball Club gave the third-most donations of any football and netball club in Victoria, with a total of 44 donations.

Red Cross Australia estimates Geelong Amateurs efforts alone would have saved 132 lives.

Club committee member Gavin Clark said while the club regularly participates in the challenge, they had been particularly active this year.

“We’ve been doing it for a few years, but I must say the uptake this year has been very, very good,” Clark said.

“All areas of the club embraced it. It’s just a very good thing to do.”

Modewarre Football and Netball Club donated a total of 32 times, the sixth-highest of any football and netball club in Victoria.

It was the first time the club had participated in the challenge and the club’s football president Daniel Morter said he was delighted with the response.

“I was pretty excited when I saw how many people were donating,” said Morter.

“It was a real mixture. We put it out through social media, and we had footballers, netballers, supporters, and regular volunteers donating. A lot of them were first-timers too.”

Queenscliff Football Netball Club and Ocean Grove Football and Netball Club we also involved in the challenge.

Clark said the support local sporting clubs showed in this year’s challenge epitomised what they represent.

“If you look at sports clubs, no matter who they are, they’re all about supporting the community as much as they can.”