Paolo has faced Hodgkin’s Lymphoma, a type of blood cancer, three times – at 25, 28, and 30. Each time, he got through thanks to the kindness of strangers.
‘Bags of blood kept me going, and platelets stopped me from bleeding,’ he says. ‘Those donations gave me strength when I needed it most.’
What Paolo loves most is showing donors the incredible impact of their gift.
‘They don’t think it’s a big deal,’ he laughs. ‘But there’s a bit of a disconnect between giving blood and seeing the result. To say, ‘Look – I’m here because of you’ is amazing.’
Currently well, Paolo wants more people to join this life-saving community.
‘I’d encourage anyone who can to come along and give blood,’ he says. ‘It doesn’t take much, but it changes everything for people like me.’