INSTEAD of a celebratory party for her 40 years of service in media, veteran broadcaster Fae Ellington thought a good way to give back to her country was to organise a blood drive.

The idea, she said, was triggered when she worked at the blood collection centre at the National Chest Hospital on World Blood Donor Day in June, and saw the need for a greater level of awareness about the importance of blood donation.

“I could have had a party, you know, I love a party and I love to dance… but I thought it should be something else,” the Ellington told the Jamaica Observer yesterday.

Having forgotten her previous milestones in media, Ellington said, “This one (40th anniversary) must have been special… because I remembered it, though the others just passed.”

Held yesterday at the Kiwanis Club of Kingston Collection Centre at the National Chest Hospital, at half-day more than 50 units of blood were collected with prospective donors still arriving. Ellington’s target is 100 units of blood, which she hopes will be reached after Tuesday’s islandwide collection drive.

Up to late yesterday, Ellington said she was pleased with the turnout and hoped for more volunteers.

“I am hoping that for those persons who didn’t get to give today… (they) will give on Tuesday,” Ellington said yesterday.

On Tuesday, September 16, the actual date of her 40th anniversary, people across the island will be able to give blood to Ellington’s cause at all collection centres.

Blood donor organiser for the National Blood Transfusion Service, Igol Allen, said he was pleased with the day’s turnout and said the Blood Bank is working assiduously to get more volunteers through various ventures.

“The good thing about partnering with Fae is all the spin-off awareness out there… knowledge about transfusion (and) the need. It has been phenomenal, she goes non-stop,” Allen said.

“I have plans to work with Igol and the Blood Bank on World Blood Donor Day, I’ll support as best I can. I would love to see younger people giving… maybe more university students, college students at that level… to get them to understand that it is important,” Ellington told the Observer.

Ellington expressed her gratitude to her many sponsors and supporters and especially expressed thanks to the Jamaica Defence Force that had over 40 individuals donate blood yesterday.