MANY people in Cheshire will be considering giving things up for the New Year, like unhealthy food or alcohol.

But you can change your life by choosing to give.

Giving blood is amazing – you can save or improve the lives of up to three people each time you donate.

We always need new donors to ensure we have the right mix of blood groups among our donors to meet patient needs in the future and to replace those people who can no longer donate.

We need 6,000 people to donate blood every day to meet the needs of desperately ill hospital patients.

Blood and platelets are not just used after accidents.

They are used for patients with cancer, anaemia, childbirth complications, and in a variety of life-saving procedures.

Less than three per cent of people aged 17-70 donated blood last year. If you’ve never given blood in Cheshire before, register to donate blood and book an appointment to donate at blood.co.uk.

Donating only takes an hour of your time.

So please start this year by changing not just your life, but someone else’s life too, by giving blood.

Jon Latham NHS Blood and Transplant