Yorkshire-August

Yorkshire Post – August 12, 2004

Wizard ‘Neville’ has got it right!

IN his fantasy life, teenage actor Matthew Lewis is the sort who might actually faint at the sight of blood.

For he plays the hapless teenage wizard Neville Longbottom, the one who gets his spells mixed up, in the Harry Potter film series.

But in real life Matthew, of Horsforth, Leeds, is made of stronger stuff and went along to The Headrow blood donor clinic to celebrate its first anniversary.

Matthew, 15, a pupil at St Mary’s High School, Menston, said: “When I was little, my mum Lynda took me with her when she gave blood. So I know how important it is and I’ve always planned to do it as soon as I’m old enough.”

The young star has two years to wait before he reaches qualifying age.

Rachel Roberts, spokeswoman for the National Blood Service, said: “We are delighted that Matthew is planning to become a donor as soon as he is old enough.

“In doing so, he will join just six per cent of the population who give blood and help to save over 2m lives each year.

“To meet this demand, we always need new donors and we would encourage anyone aged 17-60 who is in good health to consider becoming a donor.

“Just one donation, split into its component parts – red cells, plasma and platelets – can save up to three lives. And that’s real magic!”

The Headrow Blood Donor Centre opened on August 11 last year and has quickly established itself as the National Blood Centre’s flagship static centre.

In the first year donors have given over 11,000 units of blood – enough to supply St James’s Hospital for six months.

A unit of blood is 470mls, or just under a pint, and 1,000 of them are needed in the region each day.

Regular donors can keep going up to the age of 70 and they can give blood three times a year.

For more information on becoming a donor, call 0845 7 711 711.

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