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This episode is brought to you by NHS blood and transplant. Okay, so September was a busy month.

I'm sure your diaries were pretty full.

We've been in the middle of travelling, speaking, working and a whole bunch of bits and pieces.

But did you know that it was Sickle Cell Awareness Month?

There's a reason why this really matters to us and potentially for you as well.

But first, let's just explain what it

means for patients with sickle cell, for those who might not be sure. It's a serious lifelong condition

caused by unusually shaped red blood cells. It can be severely painful and life limiting. But well-matched

blood from a donor helps patients to live life to the full. So why does this matter to us so much?

There is currently a real need in the UK for people of Black Heritage to give blood regularly

to help treat Black patients with sickle cell. Sickle cell can affect anyone but is more common in

people of Black Heritage and is the fastest growing inherited blood disorder in the UK. We urgently need

new donors of Black Heritage to help fight sickle cell and regularly give blood to help save and

improve lives. The NHS needs 250 blood donations a day to help people affected with sickle cell.

That's a whole lot of blood. So you can understand why there's the need

for people to donate. The good news is that giving blood is quick and easy. It just takes

one hour to save up to three lives. Learning all this information has been so inspiring and really

demonstrates how much we can be a part of the change we'd like to see. In fact, I've got my appointment to donate blood booked for next month.

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