Pints for plasma: Red Cross summer campaign targets young donors
The Red Cross in Flanders is launching a campaign to encourage young people to donate plasma, in collaboration with the beer brand Tout Bien and influencer Average Rob. Anyone aged 18-25 who donates plasma in August or September will receive two cans, including one alcohol-free.
Plasma – the liquid yellow component of blood – contains immunoglobulins, proteins that are essential for the functioning of the immune system. It is used to treat people with serious immune disorders and patients who have undergone chemotherapy.
“Donating plasma takes just one hour of your time, and in return you save lives,” says spokesperson Vincent Verbeecke, spokesperson for the Red Cross in Flanders.
Over the past 14 years, Belgium’s need for these proteins has doubled: in 2024, around 25,000 patients used plasma medication. However, the country is only 46 per cent self-sufficient in plasma. The rest is imported from abroad.
"Young people who donate plasma for the first time often continue to do so for a long time"
“We want to break this dependency,” says Verbeecke. “Young people who donate plasma for the first time often continue to do so for a long time. That’s why this target group is so important.”
Last year, 19,073 people aged 18-25 donated plasma. The target for this year is to reach 20,000 and the organisation hopes to collect at least 3,500 donations through the summer campaign.
Donors can visit one of the 15 permanent donor centres of the Red Cross in Flanders every two weeks. Appointments can be made via the Red Cross donor portal or by calling the free number 0800 777 00.
#FlandersNewsService | Illustration © NICOLAS GUYONNET / HANS LUCAS
Related news
