Supermodel swaps Paris catwalks for Brixton High Street to give blood

International supermodel Jourdan Dunn gave blood at the capital’s newest blood donor centre in Brixton on 19 June, to mark World Sickle Cell Day and raise awareness of the debilitating condition.

West Londoner Dunn, 34, who has forged a glittering global modelling career since bursting on to the scene as a teenager, has teamed up with NHS Blood and Transplant to highlight the urgent need for more Black heritage blood donors to come forward to help treat sickle cell patients.

Jourdan's story

The model has a very personal reason for championing the cause, her teenage son Riley is one of the country's 18,000 sickle cell patients who rely on blood transfusions from Black heritage donors to live with the condition.

Sickle cell is the country's fastest growing inherited blood disorder that disproportionately affects Black African and Black Caribbean communities. NHSBT Data suggests that in the UK around 250 babies a year are born with the condition. The service currently needs to recruit 16,000 new Black heritage blood donors this year to meet the growing need.

Regular blood transfusions form the first line of defence against the condition, with patients responding best to donations containing the Ro blood type, that is significantly more prevalent in donors of Black heritage.

More than half (56%) of donors of Black heritage are likely to have the Ro blood type, compared with just 2.4% of other ethnicities.

Jourdan said:

"As a mother who has seen her child battle sickle cell, I am committed to doing all I can to help him, and the thousands of other people with the condition, have the best chance to live a full and healthy life.

"That's why I donated blood in Brixton and am asking the Black community to register to do the same. By giving an hour of your time 3 to 4 times a year, you can save up to 12 lives – that’s an amazing power you have in your hands.

"I'm incredibly thankful to the record numbers of Black donors who have given Blood in Brixton and across the country, but as numbers of sickle cell patients increase, so too does the need for more donors to come forward."

Sickle cell patient Calvin Campbell said:

"I owe my life to the generosity of Black heritage donors. Every 4 weeks I need to have ten to 12 units of blood transfused into my body to allow me to be relatively healthy.

"Without those blood donations I would have died years ago and not have the life I have now. I wouldn't have had children, grandchildren, and the ability to work."

Statements

Statement from Mark Chambers

NHSBT Director of Donor Experience Mark Chambers said:

"We've seen a great response to our calls for more Black heritage donors to sign up to become blood donors, but the need for more to register and become regular blood donors is growing. including 22,000 of these in London

"Blood transfusions to pre-empt sickle cell crises are helping more people live well with the condition, but on average we need 250 donations a year to help them, that's why it's vitally important we recruit more Black heritage donors.

"Jourdan's support, both as an NHS ambassador and a donor will hopefully encourage others to follow her lead and spare an hour of their time to make a lifesaving difference."

Statement from Paula Shutt

Paula Shutt from the Sickle Cell Society, said:

"World Sickle Cell Day shines a vital spotlight on the urgent need for more blood donors of Black heritage – but this need does not end when the day is over.

"For thousands of people living with sickle cell, regular transfusions are a lifeline, and that lifeline depends on a steady supply of compatible blood throughout the year.

"We’re proud to be part of this campaign and the incredible efforts of donors who step up, not just once, but time and again. It’s through consistent, ongoing action that we can ensure the best health outcomes and quality of life that sickle cell patients deserve."

How you can help

The Brixton donor centre is inviting the public to visit on 19 June to find out their blood type via a pinprick test, register to become blood donors and make a donation. Currently there are 22,000 appointments available across London.

To speed up the process, potential donors can register via the NHSBT app, through our website or by calling: 0300 123 23 23.