Wolves fans who have had Covid-19 urged to donate blood plasma
Wolves fans who have had coronavirus have been urged to donate their blood plasma as part of a new NHS campaign.
Eight clubs, including the old gold and black, have supported the move and the launch of a new team as part of the drive.
NHS chiefs have created "Plasma FC" and have asked fans of real-life football clubs to support them by donating plasma.
Rachel Smith, health and wellbeing manager at Wolverhampton Wanderers (Foundation), said: "We are pleased to be promoting the 'sign for Plasma FC' campaign to all of our Wolves supporters.
"The last year has been so difficult for everyone in a variety of ways with overcoming Covid-19 up there as one of the toughest battles.
"We’d like to encourage all Wolves fans who are eligible, to get involved in donating their blood plasma so that we can help Be The Difference in the fight against this virus and help others out in the future.
"At Wolves we pride ourselves on the One Pack mentality and I’m sure there’ll be plenty of supporters to highlight this."
Wolverhampton Wanderers (Foundation) have backed the move alongside other Premier League clubs – Leicester City, Crystal Palace and Brighton & Hove Albion.
Fans of Championship clubs QPR, Blackburn Rovers (Community Trust), Watford and League One club Northampton Town have also been asked to donate.
Darren Buttrick, from Coven in South Staffordshire, has been chosen as part of the campaign after beating Covid-19 at New Cross Hospital in March last year.
The 49-year-old was placed on a ventilator in intensive care but pulled through – and has since gone on to become the country's most prolific plasma donor.
The father-of-three, who has donated 24 times, said he was proud to be involved in the campaign following the death of his father-in-law on January 7 this year.
Lifelong Wolves fan Kenneth "Ken" Morgans died aged 77 – less than two weeks after he happily ate Christmas dinner after forming a bubble between households.
Darren said: "He was a very hands-on husband, father and grandfather – always laughing and joking with his three grand-daughters and letting them do Tik Toks, usually at his expense.
"He would drive them to their horse and watch them ride and loved going on holiday with us to Dubai.
"They called him Mr Fix-It. If anything needed fixing he would be called upon.
"He was born and bred in Wolverhampton – and the blood donation team wrote to me, saying 'we’re doing this awareness campaign' – the one which has featured the Everton manager [Carlo Ancelotti].
"I'm delighted my home team is supporting this campaign to encourage more people to donate blood plasma.
"We all need inspiration and who better than Wolverhampton Wanderers."
Plasma FC is particularly appealing for men, black and Asian donors, and those who received hospital care for the virus to join its ranks.
Their plasma is more likely to contain the high levels of antibodies needed to donate.
Grateful
Mike Murphy, consultant haematologist for NHS Blood and Transplant (NHSBT) which launched the campaign, said: "We’re incredibly grateful to Darren and the thousands of people who have donated plasma to support research into new treatments for Covid-19.
"We need more people to register as donors to support further studies which could help vulnerable groups, such as older people and those with weak immune systems.
"The high infection rates mean more people than ever are now able to help."
NHS chiefs paused the plasma donations – which are full of antibodies against Covid-19 – last month after analysis from the trials showed no overall benefit for people in hospital care.
But it has since restarted as analysis continues by experts over whether it could benefit certain patients – such as people with low natural antibody levels.
International trials are also testing if plasma helps people when it’s used much earlier in the disease – before people get to hospital.
Fans can support Plasma FC by following their local club's social media channels and sharing the short Plasma FC film.
Anyone aged over 17 who has tested positive for Covid-19, or who has had symptoms, can register to donate plasma.
A donation takes 45 minutes and the whole appointment – including time for snacks – lasts around one hour and 15 minutes.
Donations are being taken at NHSBT's 23 blood donor centres – including in Wolverhampton and Birmingham – and a further 20 pop-up plasma donor centres.
The body quickly replaces the donated plasma and the donated antibodies.
People can register to donate online at www.nhsbt.nhs.uk or search ‘donate plasma’.
