Retailer's 'Vote for Life' with blood drive

8 May 2009

Massmart's Game and Dion Wired stores have embarked on a campaign that aims to save 100,000 lives by urging their employees to become active blood donors in the build-up to the 2010 FIFA World Cup football tournament in South Africa in June next year.

Jan Potgieter, managing director of Game and Dion Wired stores, donates blood at a special clinic set up at Game Pavilion as part of the group’s Vote for Life campaign. Helping him is Sister Jay Moodley from SANBS.

Their Vote for Life campaign encourages all staff members to donate blood at least six times before June next year. It began in December last year and is believed to be the only corporate campaign of its kind in the country.

"We are asking our employees to truly think about the difference their gift of blood could make and then take that brave step towards giving blood,' said Jan Potgieter, managing director of Game and Dion Wired stores.

"Each time one person donates blood, they could be saving three lives. This means that one employee could save 18 lives in 18 months."

Staff members are able to donate blood in their own time at any clinic run by the local blood service but special clinics are also being set up at some of the more than 100 stores, regional offices and warehouses operated by the two companies.

"Shoppers at Game and Dion Wired stores where clinics are set up are more than welcome to donate blood here and become a part of the campaign," Potgieter said.

"South African National Blood Service (SANBS) and the Western Province Blood Transfusion Service face shortages on a regular basis and pressure will mount during an event like the World Cup which will see an influx of thousands of overseas visitors. This will be a challenging time for these organisations whose sole purpose is to saves lives."

The Vote for Life programme has been rolled out to the group's stores across Africa - in Botswana, Ghana, Malawi, Mauritius, Mozambique, Namibia, Nigeria, Tanzania, Uganda, and Zambia.

"We see this as one of the most important campaigns we have undertaken and are confident that our employees appreciate the need in South Africa and Africa for individuals to come together and make contributions that will give hope, help and life. This is an opportunity where a single act by one individual can truly save a life. Collectively, it is a team effort which we hope will have a huge impact."