Scotland urgently needs more Blood Donors and in the Highlands alone, the Scottish National Blood Transfusion Service needs 23,000 Donors to attend blood donation sessions this year.

And residents of the Western Isles can do their bit to help next week as the Service visit Stornoway on Tuesday, June 30 and Wednesday, July 1 to collect life-giving supplies.

"The team are looking forward to the sessions as always," said Gillian McCauley of the Scottish National Blood Transfusion Service.

"We always get a great deal of support when we visit Stornoway so we are confident that it will be another successful visit."

A donation of blood can be available within 24 hours to help save or improve the life of someone in Scotland and there are hundreds of reasons why anyone could need a live-saving transfusion.

But the shocking reality is that, although there is a constant urgent need for blood, only 5% of the population choose to donate.

Scotland has 30,000 fewer Blood Donors than it had a decade ago and the Scottish National Blood Transfusion Service are appealing for people to make the commitment to Give Blood at least once in 2009 to help them reverse the alarming decline in the Donor Base that is now evident.

Anyone from the age of 17 who is in general good health can play their part; it takes just 30 minutes to make your donation and it is completely safe to do so every 12 weeks.

Blood Donors are a precious commodity – they have actively made the decision to help save lives – so make sure you are one of those people.

The Scottish National Blood Transfusion Service will be at the Macleod Memorial Hall on Tuesday, June 30, open from 3.30-5pm and 6-9pm; and on Wednesday, July 1, from 10am-12pm, 1.30-4pm, and 5-8.30pm.

For more information about Blood donations or becoming a Blood Donor, click here.