A GOAL FOR LIFE!; Football team pitch in to donate 40 pints of blood.

Byline: Laura Nicklin

A FOOTBALL team has proved you can have a ball and save lives at the same time.

The lads from Fairwater FC, Cardiff, have really got into the swing of the Echo's Give Blood, Give Life campaign.

So much so that the whole squad has agreed to donate blood tomorrow.

This means that the Welsh Blood Service will be 40 pints better off.

Team secretary Simon O'Hare said: ``One of the players saw the advert in the Echo and suggested we give it a go. ``We are always looking for unusual things to do as a team and this seemed to be just the thing.''

The team will be going down to give blood in two groups as there are so many of them.

``I wanted all of us to go down together but the Blood Service asked us to come down in two groups.

``So some of the lads will be donating tomorrow and some next Friday.''

Although all the players seem keen to give blood now, Simon thinks some may become a bit squeamish when confronted with the needle.

He said: ``At the moment it is a case of one-in all-in, but I think when we actually get down there it will be a different matter.

``The fact that we have all volunteered will help those who are not so sure.

``But if anyone faints, they will never live it down!''

Welsh Blood Service recruitment officer Trudi Evans said: ``I think the lads from Fairwater are setting an excellent example.

``Their volunteering has made me realise just how effective this campaign is proving.

``Members of sports clubs would make excellent donors because they are fit, healthy and young.

``If we can secure them as regular donors now, they can donate twice a year until they are 70.''

Trudi thinks it is such a good idea that she has thrown down the gauntlet to other sports clubs in South Wales.

``We would like to hear from any club or team who would like to follow Fairwater FC's lead and get involved - we could even set up some sort of league!''

If you want to give blood in Fairwater, come along tomorrow to Christchurch Church Hall in Waterhole Road, from 10am to 12.30pm and 2pm to 6pm.

If you can't make those times, you can give blood at the same time, same place, on August 2.

COME ALONG AND GIVE

A SERIES of blood donation sessions organised by the Welsh Blood Service are due to be held in Cardiff, Caerphilly and Barry next month.

The first session is due to take place on Sunday, August 4, at the Village Hall, Pentyrch, Cardiff from 10am to 4pm. This will be followed by sessions on Monday, August 5, at St David's Hall, The Hayes, Cardiff, from 9am to 4pm, and Asda Cardiff Bay, Mobile Donor Clinic on Ferry Road from 11am to 7pm.

There will also be a donor session on August 5 at the Church Hall of Wesley Methodist Church, Crescent Road, Caerphilly, from 10am to 12.30pm and 2pm to 6pm.

On Thursday, August 8, there will be a session at Rhoose Community Centre, Stewart Road, from 10am to 6pm.

Further sessions will be held in Cardiff on Friday, August 9, at classrooms one and three of the Academic Centre, Llandough Hospital, Penlan Road, from 9.30am to 4pm, and Cyncoed Methodist Church, Westminster Crescent, Cyncoed Road, from 10am to 6pm.

CAPTION(S):

TEAM SPIRIT Fairwater FC and players Matthew Bibby and Craig Evans are signing up to give blood. PICTURE: Simon Ridgway