Riewoldt, whose sister Madeleine is receiving treatment for a rare form of cancer called aplastic anaemia, is urging everyone to donate for the cause.
“My sister’s had hundreds of transfusions over the last few years and it’s kept her alive basically,” he said.
“We draw more inspiration from her as a family, and (so do) all her friends. The strength she’s had has been unbelievable.”
A compatible bone marrow donor was recently found for Madeleine, who is still undergoing treatment in hospital.
She says blood donation has saved her life.
“Before I got sick I’d never even considered it and never even thought that people donated blood but now I’ve gone through it personally it definitely has saved my life,” Madeleine told of her experience earlier in the year.
One in three Australians will need blood in their lifetime but only one in 30 currently donate.
The Australian Red Cross Blood Service’s Darren McClure is encouraging everyone to make an appointment call 13 14 95 or visit donateblood.com.au.
“To all those people that are O positive or O negative please come in and give us some of your precious resource,” he said.
