Yup, I'm off to exchange bodily fluids shortly, and in public too! Nowhere as exciting as it may sound, though I will get some free biscuits thrown in too! The bodily fluid exchange is actually 1 small bag of blood for 1 cup of tea (ok,I know tea isn't a bodily fluid but if you take milk there you go), not a bad exchange rate as I've got plenty more where that came from. Seriously though, I reckon giving regular blood donations is something us bikers should  all be involved in if we can, you never know when you may need your next pint right? The way I see it the Blood Banks like any other bank, if you expect a payout anytime you should be prepared to put something into it if you can, and at least this bank isn't run by a bunch of thieving w*****s! Plus, after 10, 25, 50 etc donations you get nice enamel badges which look cool amongst your 'Sheep Molesters Rally' and  'I ride a SuziYamHonKawa' badges.Some thing to think about, if you haven't already.                                                                                                                                                                              

  Hi centurion, sadly some folk are not able to donate for various reasons, myself included.                                                                                                                                                                              

yeah, I realise that, hence I did say twice in that post 'if you can', and the tick box you have to fill in before donating does make it clear just how many groups of people CANT donate for various reasons, making it all the more important that those who can do consider it, thats all I'm saying

  Yep sorry, me bad, I didn't read it correctly.                                                                                                                                                                              

I'm one of the can'ts too  But having worked in blood transfusion many moons ago, I can't praise the donors enough. What better Xmas gift can anyone give? Thanks cent..and all the rest of you out there                                                                                                                                                                              

I already go every 16 weeks but I do try to drag along others                                                                                                                                                                              

have been doing this since i was 18,  (yes that is a long time before folk say!) and so have collected quite a few free drinks and chocolate biscuits!   the restrictions against giving full blood do not always stop you donating, its possible to give and then they just use the platelets or the plasma after its seperated out (ie for burns victims)   so its always worth double checking!! plus its like a free health check every 4 months, :-))                                                                                                                                                                             

I got started after I needed some for myself from the bank, and thought I might just need some again so Ill make some deposits then wont feel so bad about having to take some out, now 30 years later and the proud owner of a 50 + badge Im well in credit if I need any more.                                                                                                                                                                              

Well done to everyone who donates

I do go every time they come round and offer meself,  however, my blood count varies and sometimes it's too low for me to donate  
I'm also AB negative, which is one of the blood groups they tend to be short of too, which makes me feel worse if I can't donate

                                                                                                                                                                             

I've been donating for a while, although sometimes a bit patchily.  Someone at work sorted out a van coming round though, which makes things easier and it's time away from work.  I've not so far been turned away for blood reasons, I was borderline for iron levels once.  I think it's an important thing for everyone that can to do so.  Our new Indian guy didn't realise the extra importance of other races donating as they tend to differ in blood make up, he'll be popping along next time.

Interesting how you started after receiving wheelbarrow, as if you received after 1980(?) that you can't donate again in current rules.

Grats everyone and here's to hoping we never need it back ;p

I didnt know about that rule ST but then my receive was in Oct 79 so just made the deadline.                                                                                                                                                                             

To encourage my staff to give blood they can get an extra days holiday for each donation. That works!                                                                                                                                                                             

Yep, as Say Ten says, if you've received after Jan 1980 then you can't donate because of the possible risk of vCJD. More info here: http://www.blood.co.uk/pdf/vcjd.pdf
  I never considered giving blood until I needed some myself but when I tried I was declined. It's a shame as I expect the uptake in donors is (or would be) much higher when awareness has been raised due to personal experience.                                                                                                                                                                              

I donated today one unit of A pos