Twenty-four staff members of Princecroft Willis (PcW) chartered accountants and business advisers volunteered to donate 100 pints of blood as part of the firm’s centenary celebrations.
To hit the target, team members were invited to attend four donor sessions in Poole and New Milton.
Despite a hatred of needles, Mark Johns, managing partner of the firm, led from the front and volunteered to be the first to go on the couch at the Poole Donor Centre.
But after 15 minutes, donor staff said Mark’s blood was dripping out at such a slow rate that the attempt should be abandoned until another day.
Mark said: “It was priceless really. They managed to find a vein but after a quarter of an hour had only managed to get just under a quarter of pint of blood.
“The staff, who were excellent, said that it wasn’t a good vein and would probably take at least one hour before they had any chance of reaching a pint. In view of that, they suggested it was probably best to call it a day.
“People often joke that you can’t get a blood out of an accountant and I guess I’m living proof of that. However, it wasn’t a wasted session as I’m told that the blood they did manage to get can be used for laboratory tests. It also hasn’t deterred me and I’ll be returning to give more blood, hopefully my full quota this time,” added Mark.
Other members of PcW team, including fellow partners David Walton and Anne-Marie Gates, proved more successful in donating blood and it’s hoped the firm’s 100 pint target will be reached by the end of the firm’s centenary year.
Mark said: “I’m very proud of the team who needed no encouragement to sign up for the blood donor sessions.”
Sarah Sharpe, Donor Care Manager at the Poole Donor Centre, said: “We’re so pleased that Princecroft Willis chose us.
“Blood donation is extremely important and companies pledging to donate a certain number of pints is a great way for us to keep our reserves topped up.”
Other community/charity work being undertaken by PcW’s partners to mark the centenary include a 100-mile walk by Mark Johns, in aid of Oakhaven Hospice, and several marathon runs for charity by Julian Smith, Private Client Services Partner.
Good causes and groups being helped by PcW’s partners during the firm’s 100th year include the Lewis-Manning Hospice, Citizens Advice, SWOP Chestnut and Cherry Tree Nurseries, Young Enterprise, Weymouth & Portland National Sailing Academy and Bournemouth Sports Club.
For details on how to donate blood, go to www.blood.co.uk
