SINGAPORE, 7 July 2004 - Response to The Red Challenge Award, a national blood donation drive to encourage youths between 16 and 25 years to come forward during the June school holidays, has been overwhelming.

The annual event, organised by the Singapore Red Cross (SRCS) and sponsored by Singapore Press Holdings, saw 42 per cent increase in blood donation from the same period last year. A total of 1,832 units of blood was collected during the month-long drive, of which 31% came from first-time youth donors. The amount of blood collected is a record for the donation drive since it was launched in 2001.

Pleased with the encouraging response, Associate Professor Phua Kai Hong, Vice Chairman of the Singapore Red Cross, said: "I am proud that our youths have taken on a more proactive approach this year by bringing blood donation to the heartbeat of the youth scene. We hope the success of this year’s Red Challenge will spur more youth organisations to come forward to participate in this worthy cause."

Added Mrs Sng Ngoi May, Executive Vice President of SPH's Corporate Services and Corporate Relations: "It is heartening to see so many more youths coming forward to donate blood this year. We hope they will continue to give this gift of life and become the next generation of blood donors. SPH is proud to have sponsored this community project which has helped to save so many lives in the past few years."

This year, the Red Cross Humanitarian Network – NTU Chapter (RCHN-NTU Chapter) tips the scale with 277 units of blood collected, followed closely by last year's winner Hope Centre with 187 units of blood collected and City Harvest with 97 units of blood collected.

The Red Challenge Award will be presented on Red Apple Day, an SPH in-house blood donation drive at News Centre in Toa Payoh North on Friday, July 9, at 6.30pm.

Red Apple Day
In conjunction with The Red Challenge Award, SPH will hold its annual in-house Red Apple Day, to encourage its staff and members of the public to come forward to donate blood.

This year’s event will be held on Friday, July 9 from 10am to 4pm at the News Centre Auditorium in Toa Payoh North.

Said Mrs Sng: "The aim of the blood drive is to promote the spirit of volunteerism in the company and drive home the message that SPH staff are a caring lot who want to make a positive difference to those in need."

As the event’s name suggests, each blood donor will receive a red apple and a goodie bag with items sponsored by Nestle Singapore and SPH Magazines.

We cordially invite your reporter, photographer/TV camera crew to cover Red Apple Day on July 9.

Jointly issued by Singapore Press Holdings Ltd & Singapore Red Cross.

For more information, please contact:

Francis Mah
Assistant Manager
Corporate Relations
Singapre Press Holdings
Tel: 6319 1028
e-mail: mahys@sph.com.sg

Carol Teo
Communications Manager
Singapore Red Cross
Tel: 62200183 / HP: 9 847 2024
e-mail: carol.teo_redcross@donorweb.org