Delivered in partnership with NHS Blood and Transplant and Halton Clinical Commissioning Group, 'It’s in your Blood' aims to raise awareness of the need for more supporters to become blood donors and to join the NHS Organ Donor Register.
Supporters are now able to sign up and commit their support to this vital campaign - and who knows, perhaps pass on the Viking within them!
Programmes are already underway to use the club as a means to deliver messages of awareness about obesity, men's health, cancer awareness and dementia messages but in line with the Widnes Vikings and NHS Halton Clinical Commissioning Group partnership ethos, the challenge is to use the power of sport to strive for new innovation.
Through 'It’s in your Blood', the club are taking a proactive stance in raising awareness and educating its fans on the importance of giving blood and registering as an organ donor.
"It’s in your Blood" will run for the entirety of the 2016 First Utility Super League season and will include a range of innovative promotion opportunities utilising the Club’s players and coaches. Information on the campaign will be extensively promoted across the Club’s media platforms.
Richard Munson, Vikings Community Integrated Director, said: "Many people do not realise the importance of the work of NHS Blood and Transplant until they are in a position where they or a family member or close friend urgently needs a blood transfusion or a transplant. The ‘It’s in your blood’ campaign intends to fundamentally raise awareness of this vital work through presenting it to our fans and the wider rugby league family as an opportunity to pass on their love and passion for Widnes Vikings or their own club through an incredibly unique method."
Zeeshan Asghar, Partnership Development Manager for NHS Blood and Transplant, said: "NHS Blood and Transplant is delighted to be working with the Widnes Vikings on what we know will be a fantastic two year partnership in raising awareness of blood and organ donation. The many activities we have planned over the course of the partnership will benefit not only the local area but the rest of England too. We call on Widnes Vikings supporters to get involved by registering to give blood and joining the organ donor register today."
According to NHS Blood and Transplant, around 6,000 people are waiting for an organ transplant in the UK and over 2,000 people having received one since April 1st 2015. A transplant has the ability to save, or greatly enhance the lives of the people who require it. Furthermore, only 3% of people in England and North Wales aged 17-70 have donated blood in the last 12 months.One simple blood donation can help as many as three people who desperately require it. Donated blood is a lifeline for many people needing long term treatments, not just in emergency situations.
Dave Sweeney, Director of Transformation, said: "This is natural progression of the integrated approach between NHS Halton and the Vikings. Our beginning aim was to improve health through sport, we soon realised we had kindred innovation and aspiration. We are now moving into a different realm as we are now committed to saving lives through sport. Sky is the limit."
For more information please contact the club’s community department on 0151 495 2250.Widnes Vikings 'It's in your Blood' widnesvikings.co.uk