Cold at sea, warm at heart: Baltic Boys Aberdeen roll up their sleeves

A group of cold-water swimmers from Aberdeen have shown that while the North Sea may be freezing, their hearts are anything but.

Baltic Boys Aberdeen, a men's cold water exposure group with more than 80 members, recently came together to donate blood at Aberdeen Donor Centre following a plea for donors.

Founder of the group Matt Middler explained, 'We saw the recent appeal on TV for new donors to come forward as there had been so many donations cancelled due to the bad weather. With over 80 guys in our group, we knew we could easily mobilise at least a dozen members to donate.'

Giving back to the community is a core part of the Baltic Boys ethos. Their tagline 'Cold at sea, warm at heart' sums up perfectly why giving blood felt like such a natural step.

'This felt like a really easy way to make a big impact,' said Matt.

We might all rely on a donor one day Matt Middler

Giving as a group added an extra layer to the experience. The lads supported one another throughout the process, shared plenty of banter, and quickly put any nerves at ease.

'The staff were all lovely,' said Matt. 'Donating together really added to the experience.'

Even those who couldn't make the group session didn't miss out as several members went on to donate in their own time.

The group included a mix of regular donors, men who hadn't donated in over 20 years, and others who were giving blood for the very first time.

Inspired by the day, the Baltic Boys have now pledged to return as a group every three months, turning a one-off idea into an ongoing commitment.

When the idea of donating was first suggested, several members shared deeply personal stories about how blood donors had saved the lives of close family members and friends.

'That made it a no-brainer. We might all rely on a donor one day,' Matt remarked.

Their message to anyone considering giving blood is simple and enthusiastic:

'Sign up and go donate! It's quite fun - fascinating to see how it all works, and you leave with a great sense of achievement.'

From icy sea dips to lifesaving donations, Baltic Boys Aberdeen are proving that small actions taken together can make a big difference.

• If you would like to give blood as part of a group, please contact us for more information. 
• Book your appointment by calling 0345 90 90 999 or book online