Brace's - Wales' largest independent bakery - is working in partnership with the Welsh Blood Service in the run up to St. David's Day to ensure the blood donors in Narberth have an extra special treat.
The Welsh Blood Service will be holding a donor session at Queen's Hall, High Street, on Tuesday, February 26, between 2 and 6 pm, and is urging local people to turn up and give a pint of blood. Each donor will be offered a Brace's traditional Welsh cake to celebrate St. David's Day.
This winter collections have caused concern for the Welsh Blood Service, especially in O-negative and O-positive groups, and the Welsh Blood Service is keen to attract new donors and donors who have not given for a period of time to come forward and help.
The Welsh Blood Service need to collect over 600 donations of blood every day to keep their stock levels healthy to enable them to supply the 16 hospitals in South, West and Mid Wales.
Trudi Evans, recruitment manager at the Welsh Blood Service, said: "We are grateful to Brace's Bakery as this partnership will help raise awareness and ignite that Welsh spirit so hopefully more people will come forward and save lives.
"As a result of winter viruses which restrict the public donating until they are well, blood stock levels dropped to lower than normal for this time of year. This is an important time for us, especially with Easter holiday looming, and we hope that this will not only encourage people to visit us over the coming week, but lead to them becoming life-long donors.
"Only six per cent of people who are able to give blood actually do so, so we are calling on everyone who is able to give blood to step forward and give their support."
Mark Brace, managing director of the family bakers, said: "Brace's is extremely proud of its Welsh roots and wanted to go that extra mile for St. David's Day.
"As Wales' favourite baker, we are keen to support the local communities we serve and charities and we are delighted to support the Welsh Blood Service at this important time in their recruitment campaign.
"In addition to donating the Welsh cakes, we are also allowing staff to have time off so they can donate blood. I hope people across Wales will take notice of our appeal and give up some of their time to save lives."
Blood donors need to be aged between 17 and 66 and should be in general good health and weigh at least 50 kgs (seven stone 12 lbs). To find out more on the Welsh Blood Service or what happens when you give blood, visit http://www.welsh-blood.org.uk">www.welsh-blood.org.uk.