By KATHRYN BERMINGHAM
FEW people can say they saved a life before finishing Year 12 but collectively the students of Beaconhills Pakenham have saved up to 4500.
The school was recently recognised for 18 years of annual blood donation after the Red Cross Mobile Blood Bank Unit made its last visit to the campus last month.
Last Tuesday 12 May, Red Cross Youth Donor co-ordinator Sarah Lacey visited the school to thank the students for their many years of blood donations.
She said that more than 1500 units of blood had been collected in that time, with the potential to save up to 4500 lives.
The Red Cross Mobile Unit made its first visit to the school in 1997. Each visit provided the opportunity for 50 students over the age of 16 to donate blood.
Each year the school appoints Red Cross student ambassadors to promote the visits, recruit new donors and support their peers as they give blood.
Five senior students volunteer each year and the school will continue to select ambassadors to maintain awareness of the importance of blood donation at the school.
Sarah estimated that more than 800 Beaconhills students had donated blood over the years, with many of them continuing to donate after graduating.
She took the opportunity to encourage students to visit the mobile unit on its scheduled visits to the Cardinia Cultural Centre.
