International Plasma Awareness Week is held annually to raise global awareness about source plasma collection, recognise the valued contributions of donors, and increase understanding about plasma protein therapies and rare diseases.
Thank you to those who joined us to celebrate International Plasma Awareness Week 2024.
We are so grateful for all the members who participated in the events across the week and highlighted the importance of plasma.
Plasma Awareness Across Australia
We teamed up with Lifeblood Australia once again to host a ‘Plasma Party’ at the Wollongong donor centre on Tuesday, 1 October. This event launched the campaign, with several more parties and meet-and-greets to follow.
What is a ‘Plasma Party’?
It’s a way for IDFA and Lifeblood to highlight the need for plasma donations within the area. It aims to bring the community together and support those in need. Donors had the opportunity to meet a recipient (IDFA Member) and hear first-hand the positive impact their donation has made on other people’s lives. The purpose is to close the circle and highlight the importance of donations.
Every year it takes on average 130 plasma donations to treat one person with a primary immunodeficiency and one in 10,000 people are estimated to be impacted by primary immunodeficiencies.
Across International Plasma Awareness Week, members connected with donors in several locations across Australia:
- Wollongong, NSW
- Perth, WA
- Newcastle, NSW
- Strathpine, QLD
- Mt Waverly, VIC
- Sydney CBD, NSW
- Brisbane, QLD
- Canberra, ACT
Thanks to our IDFA members who attended and hosted events across Australia – Donna, Hayley, Nadia, Jenny, Tara, Anita, Victoria, Robyn, Dianna, Pearl, Kirsten, Domenica, Richard, Jenni and Steve.
Each event provided an opportunity to highlight immunodeficiency to donors and thank them for their plasma donations. There was lots of YELLOW spread across the centres and delicious treats for all to enjoy.
At one centre, IDFA member Tara was interviewed by ABC Newcastle while the radio host was donating plasma, as she received her SCIg infusion—a powerful full-circle moment.
In preparation for the event, host members received a ‘Host Pack‘ from IDFA, which included information and merchandise to help promote our team #IDFALifeblood at the donor centres. We’re thrilled to announce that the #IDFALifeblood team has grown from 11 to 26 members, and donations from our events are still going strong!
We’re incredibly grateful to everyone who came out to donate and support our members. If you’re encouraging a family member or friend to donate, please invite them to join our #IDFALifeblood team!
A PR media outreach campaign was developed highlighting the importance and the need for plasma donations (media release). This was emphasised with an invite to the IDFA Plasma Party in Wollongong. This outreach was very successful in raising awareness of the need for plasma for IDFA members.
Stories in the Media
The Bloody Good Tour
We will continue collaborating with Simmo, from The Bloody Good Tour, to highlight the need for plasma donations.
The Bloody Good Tour is an adventure lead by Simmo Braun, father and life lover, who is touring Australia, visiting every Life Blood Donor centre in Australia and donating plasma (a blood component) himself every two weeks.
He is on a mission to save 100,000 lives through blood donation and elevate the well-being of recipients, their families and donors alike. Follow his journey here.
Here is a special message from Simmo to our IDFA members!
Lifeblood Partnership
Our efforts and this event wouldn’t be possible without the support of Lifeblood Australia and their generous donors. We’re thankful for their commitment to raising awareness about the importance of plasma donations by hosting plasma parties and meet-and-greet events.
We’re continuing to collaborate with Lifeblood to host more events and further spread awareness. If you’re interested in hosting a Plasma Party, please reach out here.