Black London runners take on the Big Half to put blood donation at the heart of the community

A group of Black London runners will take to the streets of the capital for the Big Half on Sunday 6 September, using every mile to encourage more people of Black heritage to discover their blood type, register as blood donors and help save lives.

The runners are backing Bloodlines, an initiative that is reshaping how young Black Londoners think about blood donation, making it feel relevant, rewarding and rooted in community.

Working in partnership with NHS Blood and Transplant (NHSBT), Bloodlines is bringing together running, community and storytelling to start conversations about the vital role blood donors play in supporting patients, particularly people living with sickle cell disorder.

The partnership comes as NHSBT continues to urgently need more blood donors of Black heritage, as the NHS can currently only supply 50% of the blood needed to treat patients with sickle cell.

Sickle cell is a group of inherited blood disorders that predominantly affects people of African and Caribbean heritage. Many people living with the condition require regular blood transfusions, and closely matched blood is particularly important to help provide the best possible treatment.

Over half of all blood donors of Black heritage have a vital subtype called 'Ro' which is crucial for treating sickle cell patients. The subtype is 10 times more likely to be found in donors of Black heritage, than in white donors.

For Bloodlines co-founder Nnenna Ohaka, the Big Half, London's most diverse half marathon, provides an opportunity to take an important health message beyond traditional blood donation campaigns and into a space where Black Londoners can connect through shared experiences. A team of 7 Bloodlines runners will take on the Big Half through discounted community entries, sharing their personal stories and highlighting the positive impacts of blood donation.

Nnenna Ohaka, co-founder of Bloodlines said:

"At Bloodlines, we believe change starts with conversation. By bringing people together through shared experiences like the Big Half, we're helping make blood donation a topic that's talked about more openly across the Black community. If our team's stories encourage even one person to register and donate blood, that's a powerful step towards saving more lives."

The Bloodlines team brings together Londoners from different backgrounds and professions, with some already regular blood donors and others preparing to make their first donation.

Jelissa Lutula, from Hackney, is running with a particularly personal connection to the campaign, she said:

"As someone living with the sickle cell trait, I know how essential blood transfusions are for people living with sickle cell disorder. There's a common misconception that having the trait means you can't donate blood, but many people with the trait can donate, and learning that was really important to me.

"I want to encourage more people, particularly those from Black communities, to become regular donors as there is an ongoing need for closely matched blood to provide the best care for patients living with sickle cell. I hope my story encourages people to check whether they are a carrier, have conversations with their families, and, if they are eligible, register as blood donors."

For Delivery driver, Adeyemi Lamidi, after learning more about sickle cell and the impact it can have, he began donating blood in July 2021. He is now a regular donor and has an O positive blood type.

Adeyemi Lamidi said:

"Before I started giving blood, I never understood the severity of sickle cell, but when I learnt about how fatal the disorder can be and what individuals with sickle cell had to go through on a regular basis, I signed up straight away and have been donating ever since."

As part of the partnership, Bloodlines and NHS Blood and Transplant will host a 'What's Your Blood Type?" stand in The Big Half event village in Greenwich on Sunday.

The activation will encourage runners, spectators and members of the public to find out their blood type, learn more about the importance of blood donation, and register to become donors. It will also provide an opportunity to have conversations about why more Black heritage donors are needed, particularly to support people living with sickle cell.

The Big Half takes place this weekend on Sunday 6 September 2026.

To help save and improve more lives, register today as a blood or plasma donor, download the NHS GiveBlood app or call 0300 123 23 23.