Rush's blood gifts became very personal

Eric Rush says everyone should donate if they can, because most people will need blood products at some stage. Picture / Martin Sykes

Hunger drove Eric Rush to first give blood.

As a starving student, the former All Black and Rugby Sevens maestro started donating during his university days when donors received sandwiches and biscuits for their contribution.

"I'd much prefer the hot dog and chips, but they really didn't give that out. They offered me lunch again today, but I'm not quite as hard up as I used to be."

Rush donated blood yesterday as part of World Blood Donor Day.

Although donors today get light refreshments, food is not the spur it once was for Rush, since he saw first hand the benefits to people on the receiving end of donated blood.

His father, Mervyn, died last year at 73 after a battle with leukaemia. A painter by trade, doctors believed the source of his sickness was the asbestos he had inhaled through a lifetime's work.

"In the old days, it was another material like anything else. They sanded it, they dusted it off, they painted it," said Rush.

"He was still painting when he got crook. He was old school, you know. He didn't have to work but it was just part of his nature."

During his battle with the cancer, his father received a number of transfusions.

"When he had his first transfusion, we could actually physically see the change in him. He just felt so much better; he had energy, he was able to get up and walk around."

He started receiving transfusions once every six weeks, but as the disease progressed, the frequency increased to twice weekly.

Rush said that in the end his father decided it was not worth going ahead with more transfusions as the blood could go to someone who needed it more. He had already lived longer than doctors predicted when he was diagnosed in 2004, he said.

Rush's message was simple - everyone should give blood. "It only takes half an hour. One day it could be one of your family that will need it. If everyone's too busy to donate, where are we going to be then?"

According to the Blood Service, 80 per cent of New Zealanders will need blood products at some stage in their life, but only 5 per cent donate.

Its chief executive, Dr Graeme Benny, said blood was needed in many areas of health.

"Name just about any area of medicine and on any given day they will almost certainly be using blood products. From the accident and emergency rooms, through all types of surgery, to the neonatal units and beyond, often we only have just enough blood to meet demand."

Giving blood

You can become a new donor if:

* You are aged between 16 and 60, have good health and weigh at least 50kg.

* Have had no body piercings or tattoos in the past six months.

* Did not live in the UK between 1980 and 1996 for longer than six months.

* To become a donor, call 0800 GIVE BLOOD (0800 448 325) or register on NZBlood.co.nz.