'Donating your blood can help someone like me in my recovery'

TEENAGE CANCER PATIENT TAKES ON 30KM CHALLENGE FROM HOSPITAL TO HIGHLIGHT 'VITAL' BLOOD DONORS

- By SAM VOLPE

TEENAGE cancer patient Olli Spiller is cycling 30km on an exercise bike from his hospital room to raise awareness of the need for blood donation.

Olli, 15, from Billingham, was diagnosed with acute myeloid leukaemia earlier this year and has spent the last five weeks in hospital on the Teenage Cancer Unit at the Newcastle Royal Victoria Infirmary's Great North Children's Hospital.

A keen cyclist, he has decided he wants to be the fittest person on the ward when he is discharged - and is to cycle 30km on the exercise bike. His aim is to manage 5km a day.

He has the O-negative blood type, which means he would be classed as an “universal donor” as O-negative can be donated safely to anyone.

But unfortunately he can receive blood only from people with the same type. And because O-negative can be given in blood transfusions when the blood type is unknown, there are often shortages.