Simon Braun has been on an extraordinary walking pilgrimage across Australia. In the last year, he’s been to close to 80 Lifeblood centres—all while bringing his kids along for the journey. His mission: to inspire Australians to donate blood and set a new national record for blood donations. Braun is undoubtedly preparing for the home stretch in his campaign. His goal is to exceed the current record of 523 donations achieved by staff at Commonwealth Bank last May.
The initiative, known as The Bloody Good Tour, not only focuses on raising awareness about the importance of blood donation but seeks to enlist more than 33,000 new blood donations. Braun has become a plasma donor every two weeks. Together with his dog, Dobby, he shares his experiences and inspires others to join him in this lifesaving work.
Addressing Common Misunderstandings
When it comes to donating blood, Dr. Rachel Thorpe, a spokesperson for Ozcare, says many misconceptions discourage potential donors from getting involved. She stressed the need to combat these myths and misconceptions in order to boost donation rates.
“Ultimately we would like more people to be eligible to donate blood,” Dr. Thorpe stated, underscoring the need for inclusive policies that encourage participation. Recent updates to Lifeblood’s donation regulations have reduced restrictions and made it easier for regular people to donate and make a difference. Australians are now able to donate blood up to the age of 75 years, regardless of whether they are new donors. Additionally, people who have previously donated will have no maximum age limit for blood donation.
This month, Lifeblood eased its restrictions on sexual behaviour and blood donations. Their mission is to expand the pool of potential donors even more. These tweaks come after a recent sea change policy change that took effect in 2022. That amendment allowed people who were living in the UK during the “mad cow disease” epidemic to donate again after being barred for 22 years.
Personal Stories of Impact
For Braun, commitment to blood donation is deeply personal. It made him recall his own time on the donor chair before, during a challenging time in his own life. For the first time in as long as he could remember, he felt “truly happy. This powerful turning point inspired him to bring more people into the movement.
“The best way to get out of your own head is to get into someone else’s heart,” Braun remarked, highlighting the profound impact that charity can have on one’s mental well-being. He challenges other people to think about the lives they might save, just like he can do with his donation.
“That act can save three people’s lives — so are you really so busy that your time is worth more than six lives an hour?” he questioned, challenging Australians to prioritize blood donation amidst their hectic lives. Braun envisions that everyone will realize the power they have to make a big impact.
The Final Countdown
With the tour coming to a close, Simon Braun looks ahead to the record-setting try—a 24-hour reading marathon—taking place July 31 in Sydney. His family documents every step of their journey on The Bloody Good Tour website. Their stories continue to inspire thousands of Australians to consider joining the donor registry.
Braun’s energy and exuberance for life, and the world, leap off the page as he recalls the race for the record with Commonwealth Bank workers. “With a bit of cheek, we can’t let a bank hold the record,” he joked, adding an element of fun to this serious endeavor.
As Australians continue to support Braun’s campaign, we can only hope that Braun’s ability to affect change and ensure a more inclusive blood donation culture across the country remains. Ninety percent of Australians live within 30 minutes of a donor center. It’s important to Braun that they do more than just increase participation though, that they foster a marvelous community feeling focused on the reason for the giving.
