A POOLE mother’s courage has inspired her son to give blood.

Twenty-year-old Josh Dale, who has Asperger’s Syndrome, has overcome his fear of needles to become a regular blood donor in light of his mother receiving a life-saving transfusion.

“I couldn’t bear the thought of a needle in my arm and the first few times I gave blood I started having panic attacks and hyperventilating,” says Josh, who was speaking to the Echo after we launched our Mine’s A Pint blood donor appeal.

“It got so bad that I was told that if it happened again, I wouldn’t be allowed to give blood any more because I was a risk to myself and others.”

Josh, who was 17 at the time, was given one more chance.

“I knew what mum had been through so I focused on the fact that if people hadn’t donated blood she might not be here. I kept telling myself that the discomfort I felt was nothing compared to what she had been through.”

Josh’s mum, Jenny Dale, was also the first person in Dorset to donate a kidney to a complete stranger.

Now, Josh has become a platelet donor and makes regular donations every two to four weeks.

He said: “The more you do it the easier it gets. I have a high platelet count which means I can provide more than a lot of people. I still don’t like needles but I know what a difference it makes to others.”

Jenny, 47, who lives with Josh and her husband in Iford, says she is very proud of her son. She said: “I know how hard it was for him, but he overcame his fears and I hope his story might inspire others to become blood or platelet donors too.”

Jenny who works for Dorset Police as a crime scene investigator, had a life-saving blood transfusion in 2004 following complications during a hysterectomy. She says it was particularly tough for her husband whose first wife had died of leukaemia.

“He thought he was going to lose me too but because people had donated blood I was given a second chance at life which is why I donated my kidney. I wanted to do the same for someone else.”

How you can donate

Platelets are often life-saving.

One donor can help up to three adults or 12 children.

Most platelet donations are given to patients who are unable to make enough platelets in their bone marrow.

Platelets can only be stored for a few days, regular and frequent donors are in such demand.

Can you help? The Daily Echo is appealing to readers to support its Mine’s A Pint campaign by giving blood or platelets.

We are hoping to raise around 500 pints a week to help meet a potential shortfall of donations.

For more information please visit blood.co.uk or call the donor helpline on 0300 123 23 23 quoting the Daily Echo’s campaign code Z76.