Blood Donation Drive in Memory of Richard Okorogheye
Black community called on to make an appointment at Westfield this Saturday
Richard's mother, Evidence Joel
A group of Black health organisations, supported by NHS Blood and Transplant, have come together to launch blood donation campaign in memory of 19-year-old sickle cell patient Richard Okorogheye.
Richard Okorogheye was reported missing from his home in West London in April 2021. Two weeks later, his body was found in Epping Forest
The Bonded by Blood campaign aims to encourages the Black community to book a blood donation appointment in memory of Richard at Westfield Shepherd’s Bush Blood Donor Centre this Saturday (2 October).
Sickle cell is the fastest growing genetic condition in the UK, with 16,000 existing patients and 300 babies born with the blood disorder each year
Prior to being reported missing, Richard had been isolating at home due to the coronavirus pandemic, only leaving to go to hospital to receive blood transfusions, for the sickle cell disorder he was living with.
Evidence Joel, mother to Richard Okorogheye said, “Blood donation campaigns like Bonded by Blood are incredibly important to encourage existing blood donors to donate regularly and new blood donors to consider donating, particularly within the Black community – to help the lives of sickle cell patients and others who require blood transfusions and exchanges to maintain and save their life.
“I am grateful for the Bonded by Blood organisations coming together to do something positive in the name of my son Richard. He had a bright future ahead of him. It is my hope his legacy will be that of his name, encouraging people from the Black community to support each other by doing something so amazing such as giving blood.”
Bonded by Blood: A Mothers Story, will share individual stories through a short film on how blood donation has positively impacted the lives of individuals who receive or have previously received blood transfusions, to treat illnesses such as sickle cell, during childbirth, emergencies, blood cancer and a range of other medical conditions. These stories will be told through the lens of the mothers who have supported their children on their blood transfusion journey, whilst amplifying the need for more blood donors from the Black community to step forward and donate during either World Sickle Cell Awareness month in September, or Black History Awareness Month in October.
Every month NHS Blood and Transplant need 1,300 new Black donors to provide not only essential treatment for 16,000 patients living with sickle cell, but also to provide life-saving blood for use in emergencies, childbirth, during surgery, treatment of cancer and for a range of medical conditions. Whilst people of Black heritage are 10 times more likely to have the same rare blood subtype, the shortage of Black donors makes it harder to find the best ethnically matched blood for Black patients.
Beverley De-Gale OBE, ACLT (African Caribbean Leukaemia Trust) Co-Founder and Director of Operations said, “Hearing the mothers share their stories of helplessness, sorrow and sheer desperation for their child to be healed, was all too familiar to me due to my own journey with my son Daniel. Remembering the feeling of wanting the relevant treatments for Daniel to be available to him at the time he needed it, is what encourages me to lead campaigns such as, Bonded by Blood.
“The Black community coming together like this will help increase the much-needed blood stocks now and, in the future, – particular the Ro Blood subtype, which is more commonly found in Black people. It’s important for the Black community to step forward and book an appointment to give blood during this campaign, in memory of Richard, and for all the patients who are in desperate need of ethnically well-matched blood. Many lives depend on it, so I urge people of African and Caribbean heritage to come out on mass, to support this worthwhile campaign.”
Cynthia Tewogbade, NHS Blood and Transplant Events & Outreach Officer, said, “We are proud to support this campaign. I hope people of Black African, Black Caribbean or mixed Black heritage will sign up and come to the special Bonded by Blood sessions.
“It is extremely important that people who need transfusions get blood from a donor of a similar ethnicity. While we have seen a 29 per cent rise in numbers of Black donors, we need 16,000 new donors from Black communities this year, as demand for ethnically matched blood has increased by 50 per cent. Giving blood is easy, safe and in just one hour you can save three lives.”
To register to donate blood and attend the Bonded by Blood: A Mothers Story blood donation sessions, individuals should call the priority booking line on 0300 303 2805. Alternatively, people can visit www.blood.co.uk and complete the pre-booking form.
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October 11, 2021