As UK marked the Organ Donation Week (23-29 September), Deepak Singh Udassi, a 43-year-old Sikh from Surrey, has made a significant impact on his community through his dedication to blood and platelet donations.
In August, Deepak reached an impressive total of 100 donation credits after giving 33 whole blood and 67 platelet units over the past thirteen years.
Deepak's commitment to blood donation stems from his Sikh faith, which emphasises selfless service.
Explaining, Deepak said, "Service can come in many forms, whether it's making a donation, feeding someone, or using a skill you have to help others. In this case, it means contributing my body to help others.”
A deeply personal motivation for Deepak's continuous effort is his father who suffers from a type of leukaemia called myelofibrosis and requires blood transfusions every three weeks. “If my father is taking a unit out every month and I put a unit in every month, it sorts of balances out. I feel like I'm helping him in my own way,” he shared.
How did Deepak’s journey begin?
Deepak’s journey to blood donation began when he started donating whole blood at York House in Twickenham. After moving to Surrey about four years ago, he switched to donating platelets at the Tooting Centre, where he makes monthly trips.
"By making the journey into London, I can donate platelets more frequently than whole blood, which allows me to contribute more regularly. Tooting is an hour’s drive for me, but appointments are flexible, so I book when I know I’ll be in the area on business – and free parking is provided too!” he said.
Need for blood donation within British Asians
Speaking about the importance of blood donation within minority communities, Deepak emphasised, "There's a huge need for blood donations, especially within the Black and South Asian populations. Blood from one's own community often provides a better match. But unfortunately, there's a mismatch between those who need blood and those who give it.”
He encourages people, particularly those of South Asian heritage, to donate blood. "It's free, has no negative impact on your body, and helps directly serve your community while easing the burden on the NHS. We all need to contribute in our own way."
- Register as a blood or platelet donor and book an appointment to donate via the GiveBloodNHS app or at www.blood.co.uk.
- If you can’t find an appointment straight away, please book for further in the future. Your blood will still help to save lives.
