A PARENT and community figurehead is organising an awareness event in Stratford to encourage the local ethnic and mixed race community to donate blood.
Gowhar Shaikh, of the East Ham Supporter community group, will be highlighting the work of Richard House Children's Hospice, in Beckton, at the Newham College event.
Her son, who was not named for hospice confidentiality reasons, suffers from a rare kidney and blood disorder. He uses the centre and requires transfusions of blood donated from the ethnic and mixed race community.
There is a national shortage of blood donations from people in ethnic minority communities. It is hoped the event, one of two being organised by the mum, will pull in new donors from Stratford.
She said: "My family have had a lot of support from Richard House and I wish to show our thanks by informing the wider community of their vital work.
"At the same time there is a large Asian population in this area of London and we need to raise awareness of how they can save lives by donating blood.
"It will help not only my own family, but families in our situation throughout the country."
The event takes place at the Stratford campus of the college, in Welfare Road, between 11am and 2pm on January 28.
For more information on being a blood donor visit www.blood.co.uk
