Couple add gift of life to wedding day celebrations

As the needle slid into his arm at the Shire Blood Donor Centre in Miranda in Sydney's south several years ago, Heath Willets hardly noticed the sting.

He was smitten with the woman sitting next to him, a blonde named Sarah, who was also donating blood, something she did regularly.

"I was already a blood donor, but I definitely became more 'regular' once I knew Sarah was a blood donor, and timed my donations to be at the blood bank when she was," said Heath.

Fast forward several years, and what started with their semi-regular friendly "donation dates" eventually led to wedding bells for the couple, and an unusual special day.

The 26-year-olds tied the knot on Saturday, and included a blood donation at the centre in Miranda where they fell in love as a part of their ceremony.

Sarah says they wanted their blood donation to be the first thing they did together once married.

"We wanted our first act as husband and wife to be something that helped save lives, doing something good for others,"she said.

Guests were urged to make blood donations prior to the ceremony as gifts. 

The couple have saved more than 600 lives, with each having made more than 100 donations.

Sarah has the rare blood type A negative, which is found in a small percentage of the population.

Lifeblood spokesperson Jemma Falkenmire said while many couples have donated together over the years, this was a first for Red Cross Lifeblood.

"This is certainly the first time we've ever had a bridal party in donating as part of their wedding day. We're so incredibly grateful, and within 48 hours, their donations will be on their way to saving the life of patients in hospital."

They were met at the centre after their wedding by 12-year-old blood recipient Rydah Taki, who was diagnosed with cancer on at the age of 11, but recently declared cancer free.

Cancer patients are the nation's largest users of blood, and the fluid is critical for helping them through chemotherapy, which often wipes out the body's ability to create blood. Rydah has needed many transfusions, and wanted to thank the couple on their happy day.

Newlywed Heath Willets encouraged people to give blood donation a go.

"Just try it once, and if it's not for you, that's OK! But you might, like us, love the feeling of saving lives on a regular basis, and we are healthy and young, so why not do our bit?"

Blood can given be donated every two weeks via plasma donations and every 12 weeks with whole blood donations.