Model Jourdan Dunn donated blood at Brixton Blood Donor Centre to raise awareness of chronic blood shortages impacting sickle cell patients, emphasising the critical need for ethnically matched donations from Black communities to improve treatment outcomes.
Model Jourdan Dunn recently donated blood at the Brixton Blood Donor Centre in south London, using the opportunity to raise awareness about the urgent need for more blood donors of Black heritage. Her donation coincided with World Sickle Cell Day, a moment dedicated to highlighting the challenges faced by those living with sickle cell disease—a genetic blood disorder predominantly affecting people of Black descent. Dunn’s appeal spotlights a crucial health issue: ethnically matched blood transfusions are vital for effective treatment, but there is a shortage of donors from Black communities.
Sickle cell disease causes red blood cells to deform into a sickle shape, leading to painful crises, organ damage, and other serious complications. Many patients rely on regular blood transfusions to manage their condition and maintain quality of life. However, the demand for blood donations suitable for these patients is pressing. The UK’s NHS Blood and Transplant service has reported a record demand of about 250 donations daily specifically for sickle cell patients, necessitating increased recruitment efforts focused on Black heritage donors. This shortage arises in part because blood compatibility is more likely when donor and recipient share similar ethnic backgrounds, helping to reduce transfusion-related complications.
This challenge is echoed internationally. In the United States, sickle cell disease primarily affects African American communities, with approximately 1 in every 500 African Americans living with the condition. The American Red Cross and other agencies underscore the importance of diversity in blood donors, noting that about one-third of Black donors can be matched to sickle cell patients. Despite this, only a small fraction of blood donations come from Black and other minority communities, prompting calls for greater outreach and education to encourage donation.
Efforts to address this disparity include national initiatives such as the Red Cross’s Sickle Cell Initiative, which has successfully increased both the number of first-time Black blood donors and sickle cell trait screenings since its launch in 2021. Nevertheless, organisations continue to urge greater blood donor diversity as a matter of urgency. Accurate antigen matching—critical for patients with sickle cell—relies on donations from ethnically similar donors. This not only improves patient outcomes but also reduces risks of transfusion complications. Advocates stress that improving blood donation rates among Black donors is essential, both to meet current demands and to provide equitable, life-saving care for those affected by sickle cell disease.
Jourdan Dunn’s public appeal serves as a timely reminder of this ongoing healthcare challenge and the vital role that culturally aligned blood donations play in saving lives. Increasing awareness and participation from Black heritage communities remains key to bridging the gap and ensuring patients with sickle cell disease receive the compatible blood they urgently need.
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Source: Noah Wire Services
- https://m.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/entertainment/news/jourdan-dunn-donates-blood-and-calls-for-more-black-heritage-donors/a899670028.html – Please view link – unable to able to access data
- https://www.nhsbt.nhs.uk/news/record-demand-for-blood-donations-to-help-sickle-cell-patients-prompts-urgent-call-for-more-donors-of-black-heritage/ – The NHS has issued an urgent appeal for more blood donors of Black heritage, citing a record demand of 250 donations daily to treat sickle cell disease, the UK’s fastest-growing genetic condition. Sickle cell is more prevalent among individuals of Black heritage, and ethnically matched blood provides the best treatment. The campaign, titled ‘Not Family, But Blood,’ aims to recruit more Black donors to meet the increasing demand. Sickle cell causes red blood cells to form into sickle shapes, leading to painful crises and serious complications. Many patients require regular blood transfusions to stay alive.
- https://www.redcrossblood.org/local-homepage/news/article/african-american-donors-are-key-to-sickle-cell-disease-patients-.html – The American Red Cross highlights the critical role of African American blood donors in supporting patients with sickle cell disease. With 98% of sickle cell patients being African American, and 1 in every 500 African Americans affected, blood transfusion therapy is essential for managing the disease. The Red Cross emphasizes the need for more Black donors to ensure a sufficient blood supply for these patients, especially during the ongoing COVID-19 crisis, which has led to a dwindling blood supply.
- https://www.redcrossblood.org/donate-blood/blood-types/diversity/african-american-blood-donors.html – The American Red Cross underscores the importance of African American blood donors in treating sickle cell disease, the most common genetic blood disorder in the U.S., predominantly affecting individuals of African descent. Blood transfusions help alleviate pain and prevent complications by increasing healthy red blood cells. The Red Cross notes that one in three Black blood donors is a match for sickle cell patients, highlighting the need for more donors from this community to support those in need.
- https://americasblood.org/press-release/americas-blood-centers-urges-congress-to-diversify-blood-donor-base-ahead-of-juneteenth-and-world-sickle-cell-awareness-day/ – America’s Blood Centers urges Congress to diversify the blood donor base to better support patient care, particularly for those with sickle cell disease and Thalassemia, who often require blood transfusions closely matched to their ethnic background. Despite the critical need, only 12% of all whole blood donations in the U.S. come from communities of color. The organization calls for action to increase diversity among blood donors to ensure lifesaving blood transfusions are accessible to every patient in need.
- https://sandiegobloodbank.org/juneteenth-world-sickle-cell-anemia-day-empowering-black-communities-health-equity/ – The San Diego Blood Bank emphasizes the importance of blood donation in minority communities, particularly for patients with sickle cell disease. Blood transfusions help replace sickle-shaped cells with healthy ones, alleviating pain and reducing the risk of strokes. With over 300 antigens inside red blood cells, precisely matching blood types is essential. Blood from donors of similar ethnic backgrounds is more likely to result in compatible matches, reducing the risk of transfusion-related complications, making it vital for minority communities, especially Black donors, to contribute to the blood supply.
- https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/blood-donations-critical-as-new-sickle-cell-treatments-bring-hope-302235372.html – The Red Cross launched its national Sickle Cell Initiative in 2021 to increase the number of Black blood donors to help patients with sickle cell disease and improve health outcomes. Since the launch, the number of first-time African American blood donors has grown to more than 108,000, strengthening and diversifying the blood supply. Additionally, the Red Cross has provided more than 224,000 sickle cell trait screenings to donors who self-identify as African American, Black, or multiracial, highlighting the critical role of Black donors in supporting sickle cell patients.
Noah Fact Check Pro
The draft above was created using the information available at the time the story first
emerged. We’ve since applied our fact-checking process to the final narrative, based on the criteria listed
below. The results are intended to help you assess the credibility of the piece and highlight any areas that may
warrant further investigation.
Freshness check
Score:
8
Notes:
The narrative is recent, published on June 19, 2025. The earliest known publication date of similar content is April 20, 2023, in The Guardian, highlighting the urgent need for more Black blood donors. ([theguardian.com](https://www.theguardian.com/society/2023/apr/20/more-black-blood-donors-urgently-needed-say-influential-britons?utm_source=openai)) The report is based on a press release from NHS Blood and Transplant, which typically warrants a high freshness score. No discrepancies in figures, dates, or quotes were found. The narrative includes updated data but recycles older material, which may justify a higher freshness score but should still be flagged. ([blood.co.uk](https://www.blood.co.uk/news-and-campaigns/news-and-statements/black-heritage-donors-giving-blood-in-record-numbers/?utm_source=openai))
Quotes check
Score:
9
Notes:
The direct quotes from Jourdan Dunn and NHS Blood and Transplant are unique to this report. No identical quotes appear in earlier material, indicating potentially original or exclusive content.
Source reliability
Score:
9
Notes:
The narrative originates from the Belfast Telegraph, a reputable UK newspaper. The report is based on a press release from NHS Blood and Transplant, a credible organisation.
Plausability check
Score:
8
Notes:
The claims about the need for more Black heritage blood donors are consistent with previous reports from NHS Blood and Transplant. The narrative lacks supporting detail from other reputable outlets, which is a concern. The report includes specific factual anchors, such as dates and organisations, enhancing its credibility. The language and tone are consistent with the region and topic. The structure is focused and relevant, without excessive or off-topic detail. The tone is appropriate for a health-related report.
Overall assessment
Verdict (FAIL, OPEN, PASS): PASS
Confidence (LOW, MEDIUM, HIGH): HIGH
Summary:
The narrative is recent and based on a press release from a reputable organisation, with unique quotes and consistent claims. However, the lack of supporting detail from other reputable outlets is a concern.
