SSE Airtricity League players back IBTS Platelets Awareness campaign

SSE Airtricity League players back IBTS Platelets Awareness campaign

SSE Airtricity League players will show their support for the Irish Blood Transfusion Service’s Platelets Awareness campaign by wearing promotional tee-shirts during the warm-ups before this week-end’s matches and platelet wristbands in the games.

Every day Irish hospitals need to give over 50 platelet transfusions to patients with cancer and bleeding problems. For cancer patients, modern chemotherapy would often be impossible without the support of platelet donors and the FAI and SSE Airtricity League are joining forces with the Irish Blood Transfusion Service to increase awareness of the need for more platelet donors.

Several players from different clubs were at FAI Headquarters in Abbotstown today for the announcement and among those present were Stephen Rice (Longford Town & FAI Platelets Ambassador), Sean O’Connor & Conor Kenna (Shamrock Rovers), Ger O’Brien & Jason McGuinness (St Patrick’s Athletic), Ronan Finn (Dundalk), Dean Kelly (Bohemians), Gary Shaw (Longford Town) and Michael Schlingermann (Drogheda United)

FAI Platelets Ambassador Stephen Rice said: “I got involved after seeing at first hand the pressing need for platelet donors. Not everybody can be a platelets donor but everybody needs to take the test to see if they are suitable. I would urge people to take a moment from their day and text PLATELETFAI to 53377. You will receive a response asking for your name and address you will then be posted information on Platelets and the new Platelet awareness wristband. If you are a suitable to be a donor you will join a team that is making a real difference in the fight against cancer and helping to save people’s lives. If it turns out that you are not suitable to be a donor then I would ask you to become part of the team that is spreading the word about platelets and help the donor recruitment drive.”

Dr William Murphy, Medical & Scientific Director of the IBTS said: “Ireland can be very proud of its platelet donors. Children and adults with cancer need their commitment and heroism every day of the week. On their behalf we would like to say a big thank you to the FAI and the SSE Airtricity League players for their fantastic support in raising awareness of the need for platelet donors.”

The FAI Platelets Awareness Campaign will continue throughout 2015 and will link, at various stages during the year, with the national men’s and women’s teams as well clubs and players in the SSE Airtricity League and Continental Tyres Women’s National League.

Give Platelets, Fight Cancer, Save Lives

For further information on Platelets go to www.giveblood.ie