Friends Turn Family Health Scare into Award-Winning Blood Donor Initiative
By Jill Dando News
WeDonate, a reward platform to encourage more people to give blood, took one of the two £25,000 top prizes in this year's AXA Startup Angel competition.
Best friends Alex Last and Stephen King from Woking, Surrey, are committed to inspiring a new generation of blood donors through their "student discount-like" rewards platform WeDonate.
Thirty-year-olds Alex and Stephen set out to start a business that would do something positive for society and leave a lasting legacy.
They were inspired after Stephen's uncle needed multiple blood transfusions while in hospital.
Discovering a lack of younger generation donors, with a 50% drop reported in the last five years due to the Covid pandemic, they set up WeDonate to verify and reward donors with discounts on their favourite brands through an online platform.
"Our mission began when our Co-Founder witnessed the life-saving power of blood transfusions firsthand, as a loved one was saved by the selfless donation of a stranger," the company states. "This profound moment, made possible by the selflessness of everyday heroes, ignited our desire to express our gratitude."
The platform gives blood, plasma, and platelet donors access to hundreds of top-tier discounts on their favourite brands as a gesture of thanks for their time and commitment.
"Every donation has the power to save up to three lives, and we want to show our appreciation to the everyday heroes who make that possible," the founders explain. "Together, we are building a community that recognises and celebrates the life-saving contributions of these extraordinary individuals."
For more visit the WeDonate website here
