This weekend we're joining with the Red Cross Lifeblood team to spread awareness throughout our Cricket ACT community about the importance of donating blood and plasma.
Many in our cricket community would know Cricket ACT Under 17 Male Head Coach, Jake Floros.
The Floros name is synonymous with cricket in the ACT. What you may not know about Jake is that he had a severe bacterial infection.
When he was 16-years of age he started feeling pain, pain that he thought was just a muscle cramp, however it turned out to be a bacterial infection that was eating away at his hip.
After emergency surgery, Jake suffered from Toxic Shock Syndrome there was a strong likelihood his time was up. After multiple blood and plasma transfusions, the doctors were able to turn things around.
In 2012, Jake had a hip replacement and doctors told him that his playing career was over. This is when and why he turned to coaching and has been such a big influence on many junior cricketers for the past 12 years around the ACT.
Jake and his brother Alex run an annual blood drive for the Red Cross, and this year Cricket ACT have partnered with the Floros boys and the Red Cross to do our part in sharing well needed awareness throughout the ACT.
As we move out of summer and into the cooler months, Red Cross need blood and plasma donations more than ever. Seasonal colds and flu often mean regular donors may not be able to give as they normally would due to illness. Hence, spreading awareness could assist in finding new donors to ensure Aussie patients get the life-giving products they need.
As Jake says in the video below: "When you donate, you never know whose life you're going to save."
Unfortunately, donating blood and plasma can’t be done before sport so we couldn’t organise for a Lifeblood bus to visit our cricket grounds.
However, Premier Cricket Clubs have been encouraged to register their Club for a 'group donation' and we know our clubs also love a bit of competition.
If you're keen to participate – and engage in some off-season competition for a great cause – contact your local club and find out the relevant link or QR code to register as part of your club/team. Or you can simply visit the Australian Red Cross Lifeblood website, login or register, then choose your team to donate with, or donate as an individual.
Who will be the Cricket ACT Lifeblood donation champions?
Not sure if you can donate blood? Visit the Red Cross website for more information.