One of our biggest priorities this year has been to grow our new donor base — especially among young people. We know that when someone starts donating early, they’re far more likely to make blood donation part of their lifestyle for years to come. Young donors are essential for the long-term sustainability of our blood supply. As older donors reach the point where they can no longer donate, we rely on the next generation to step forward and keep the lifeline going.
To every new donor who joined us in 2025 — whether you heard about us from a friend, a school drive, a campus activation, or walked past a clinic and decided today was the day — thank you. We’re grateful you chose to start your journey with us, and we hope to see you again soon.
Our target for 2025 was to increase our new donor base to 14,500 which translates to 1210 new donors each month. We set out to reach it through a series of dynamic donor drives designed to bring new donors through our doors. This year, we tried new ideas, partnered with incredible schools and universities, and rallied our existing donors to help us spread the word. Here’s a look at the campaigns that made 2025 such a successful year.
Battle of the Blood Donors
09 April – 26 May 2025
The Battle of the Blood Donors is a friendly donor competition among high schools across the Western Cape. Each year, schools challenge one another to see who can donate the most. The challenge brought an incredible atmosphere to each clinic, with learners arriving in groups, cheering on their classmates, and encouraging one another to donate for the first time. Over the campaign period, 1,366 people attended, including 441 new donors. It set a strong foundation for the rest of the year and proved, once again, how powerful school communities can be in recruiting young blood donors. The winner of this year’s Battle of the Blood Donors was: XXX High.
Week of Warriors
28 July – 1 August 2025
In the middle of winter, our Top 10 blood-donating schools joined forces for Week of Warriors — a collaborative drive to welcome new donors. Each school brought its own spirit and identity, and the unity across the campaign was remarkable. A total of 746 learners came through to donate, including 217 who donated blood for the first time. The week created a strong sense of pride among participants and reinforced the impact young donors can have when they show up together. This week, all the schools were winners!
Varsity Make Your Mark Invasion
We carried the youth momentum straight into our university strategy, starting with UWC. Our Make Your Mark Invasion transformed the campus, from 30 September – 2 October 2025, into a high-energy donation zone, complete with a radio partner, a DJ, music, and on-site activations that instantly drew students in. Over three days, 370 people attended the clinic, including 132 new donors. That’s a 36% new donor rate!
A week later we took the varsity energy to Stellenbosch, where students responded with just as much enthusiasm. The Make Your Mark Varsity Invasion visited the University of Stellenbosch from 7 – 10 October 2025. The spirit on campus was incredible, and students embraced the opportunity to give back. During the Maties invasion, 397 people attended, the blood donation clinics and 97 were new donors. The campaign showed how campus culture, peer influence, and a great environment can help young people take that crucial first step into blood donation.
Bring-a-Buddy: Get a Braai
22 – 27 September 2025
Our September Bring-a-Buddy: Get a Braai campaign was our first attempt at this type of peer-to-peer drive, and it proved to be a great introduction to the concept. Donors were encouraged to bring a friend who had never donated before, and if that friend qualified and donated, both walked away with a mini charcoal braai. The idea created a fun, social atmosphere. The week brought 3,572 people through our doors, including 478 new donors, and set the stage for what was to come.
Bring-a-Buddy: Get a Fanley
25 October – 7 November 2025
In October, we launched our Bring-a-Buddy: Get a Fanley campaign — and it quickly became one of our most successful recruitment drives of the year. Donors were encouraged to bring a friend who hadn’t donated before, and if the new donor qualified and donated, both donors received a Fanley stainless steel mug.
The response was incredible. Over the main campaign week, 4,027 people visited our clinics, including 1,099 new donors. Because of this overwhelming success, we added a short two-day top-up in early November, bringing in a further 1,517 donors, including 300 new donors. Together, the entire Fanley campaign brought thousands of people through our doors, and a remarkable 1,399 new donors began donating blood in just one week.
Looking Ahead
Each campaign this year taught us something valuable about how to welcome new donors into our family. Whether it was the electricity of a varsity campus, the excitement of a school challenge, or simply a loyal donor bringing a friend along, every effort played a part in strengthening our donor base.
Together, these campaigns brought in 2,764 new donors, accounting for just over 19% of our annual target of 14,500. That is an achievement worth celebrating, and a clear sign that our focus on youth, peer influence, and community partnerships is paying off.
Most importantly, it shows that our donor community is growing — and that the future looks bright. Every new donor who joined us this year has helped lay the foundation for a stronger, more sustainable blood supply in the Western Cape. We are incredibly grateful for each and every one of them.
And to everyone who donated, encouraged a buddy, joined a school challenge, cheered from the sidelines, or decided that 2025 was the year to start giving — thank you. You’ve helped secure the next generation of lifesavers, and the lives they will go on to save.
