Red25 is a Red Cross initiative encouraging corporate and community groups to help ensure that 25 per cent of Australia’s blood requirements are met.

In 2017, more than 70 Cadia employees made a total of 249 donations to the Orange Blood Bank.

Red Cross Community Relations Officer John Feist said it was a fantastic effort which saved more than 747 lives.

He said that in the six years Cadia has been part of the donation program they’ve made more than 1000 donations and saved more than 3000 lives.

Mr Feist met Cadia’s communications representative Rosie Pritchard, senior environment advisor John Ford and general manager Peter Sharpe to acknowledge the company’s achievement – with another round of donations on Tuesday.

“Cadia has been in partnership with Orange Blood Bank since 2011 and in that time more than 1300 blood donations have been made by our employees,” said Mr Sharpe.

Mr Sharpe said after donating blood for the first time this year he would become a regular donor.

“I’ll be encouraging our entire workforce, including the senior leadership team, to roll-up their sleeves and donate blood,” he said.

“I believe that if you are fit and able to assist then why not? I feel it’s a great way of giving back to the community and being able to help those in need.”

Mr Sharpe said that through Cadia’s Community Partnership Program, Cadia also donates $10 per blood donation from each employee to the Red Cross.

“In 2016/17 Cadia donated $2,980 to the Red Cross and we are aiming to beat that tally this year,” he said.

Currently, one in three Australians need a blood donation at some time in their lifetimes.

This translates to a demand for 25,000 donations each week.

Despite the high percentage of Australians who require blood in their lifetime, only one in 30 will donate.

The Australian Red Cross estimates that the demand for blood will grow by 100 percent over the next 10 years. It is currently looking at a number of measures in addition to the Red25 to help close the gap between supply and increasing demand.

Orange Blood Donor Centre opens: Monday: 11am-6.30pm, Tuesday: 7.30am-2pm, Wednesday:11am-6.30pm, Thursday:11am-6.30pm, Friday:7.30am-12.30pm, Saturday:7.30am-12.30pm. It’s also open every 2nd and 4th Saturday of month and closed Friday’s before 2nd and 4th Saturday.