So, I'll warn you now....I'm on my soapbox again.

This week is National Blood Week. We've had a representative at work today trying to sign up new donors, hopefully everyone who said they donate will actually turn up and do it. My next appointment is booked for Friday which is actually World Blood Donor Day, the birthday of Nobel Prize winner Dr Karl Landsteiner who discovered the ABO blood grouping system.

If you don't donate and you're eligible to donate, then you should. Get yourself on the phone 0300 123 23 23 or visit www.blood.co.uk and make an appointment.

Did you know that 96% of the population rely on the other 4% to give blood? That's an appalling statistic, please do something to help increase the number of donors, even if you donate only once you really will be saving lives.

Please.