Current blood stocks in Australia are dangerously low.

In the past 12 months more than 500,000 Australians have selflessly given up their time to make more than 1.2 million blood donations.

They give their blood anonymously, but little do they know that every day someone thanks them.

The importance of blood to the community can never be understated as thousands of people rely on blood and blood products to improve the quality of their lives.

To let blood donors know how special they are, 15-21^st September has been designated as National Blood Donor Week. During the week local milestone donors will be commemorated at official functions across the nation.

One single blood donation helps to save up to three lives - the lives of people with cancer, mothers and children, as well burns and accident victims. The blood service would like to join those who need blood by saying thank you too.