Two milestones were reached by the Joely Bear Appeal at its 40th blood-donor session, held at Borehamwood and Elstree Synagogue.
The turnout of almost 200 accounted for the appeal’s 1,000th new donor and the 5,000th donation overall. The respective supporters, Jonathan Kaye and Ashley Kay, received commemorative certificates. Children’s entertainer and TV presenter Dave Benson Phillips performed for the youngsters who had accompanied their parents to the session.
Joely Bear was launched in 1995 by Elstree Liberal Synagogue members Leigh and Lisa Renak after their four-year-old son Joel died from a rare form of liver cancer. Its aims include promoting blood donations and signing up for the bone marrow register.
As Daniel Renak, Joel’s brother, said: “Giving blood is something that the vast majority of the able population won’t even contemplate. Yet they’d expect it to be available should they, friends or family require it following surgery.”