A mum whose son’s life was saved thanks to donated blood is backing National Blood Week.

Starting today, the campaign by NHS Blood and Transplant aims to highlight how the simple and selfless act of giving blood saves lives each day.

Julie Butler’s eight-year-old son, Joshua, was hit by a car outside Norristhorpe Junior and Infant School, Liversedge, in September 2011.

He was airlifted to Leeds General Infirmary with serious head injuries, where his parents were told to prepare for the worst.

But Joshua was given life-saving surgery and within days he was sitting up in bed asking for his mummy.

Now Julie is calling on more people to give blood and save lives after her son required one during his life-saving operation. She said: “I think it’s very important because people don’t know what’s going to happen, things can change in a second and nobody knows when they are going to need services like a blood transfusion.”

Jon Latham, spokesman for NHS Blood and Transplant (NHSBT), said: “This year we need donors more than ever before because major public events can disrupt regular donations and we have extra visitors to the UK to prepare ahead for.”

Blood is used when women suffer complications during childbirth, to help premature babies, to replace blood lost during surgery and to treat patients with cancer and blood diseases like leukaemia.

Anyone wanting to donate for the first time should be aged between 17-65 and be in general good health.

If you’ve donated before, you can start again up to your 70th birthday and there is no upper age limit for donors who have donated in the last two years.

To find out more about blood sessions or to book an appointment call the Donor Line on 0300 123 23 23 or visit.blood.co.uk.