Bank staff prove every drop counts

Hundreds of Bendigo and Adelaide Bank staff have taken up the blood donation challenge, helping the Bank become Australia's biggest corporate donor in the medium business category.

This year the Bank signed up to Red Cross' club:red National Corporate Challenge, an initiative that encourages businesses to compete for the highest number of staff donations.

Bank staff have now recorded 775 donations for the year and are sitting in first place in the medium size organisation category.

The bank's team hopes to clock up 1000 donations by year's end.

Executive Community Engagement Robert Musgrove said the Bank had jumped at the chance to help drive blood donation and encouraged other businesses to do the same.

"Our people understand the meaning of community, and how giving up our time (and even our blood) can help others around us in need," Mr Musgrove said.

"We're proud to reach this milestone and I'm confident we can exceed our donation target by the end of the year."

Each donation to the Australian Red Cross Blood Service has the potential to save three lives.

For Customer Service Officer Josh Tomé, his ability to make a difference is felt keenly.

He decided to donate blood after a co-worker was diagnosed with Leukemia, the treatment for which requires regular blood transfusions.

"This was my main motivation to get involved and donate blood and I found it to be such an easy and rewarding process," Mr Tomé said.

"Blood donations are a vital element of treatment for a range of illnesses, and I'm just happy to play my part."

To track Bendigo and Adelaide Bank's progress in the 2014 club:red National Corporate Challenge, visit the website. Businesses can also register for club:red online.

To make an appointment at your nearest blood bank, call 13 95 96.