The incredible difference the contribution of four blood donors from the Bradford district has made – it is estimated they have saved or improved 1,669 lives between them – is a shining example to anyone who has ever considered giving blood.

The quartet have all each given blood more than 100 times, and were honoured at a ceremony in Yorkshire yesterday.

And hopefully their example will be followed by others who have in the past thought of giving blood but have for one reason or another never got around it.

In the majority of cases, it will be a simply matter of the inconvenience of giving up their time, rather than the actual process of making donations that is the main issue, as most now that the act itself is completely safe and relatively painless.

But that inconvenience has to be weighed against the good this simple act can do. It could be you or a member of your family that is in vital need of a transfusion in future.

No one is expecting people to suddenly start matching the incredible efforts of those who have given 100 times or more, but an occasional donation could make all the difference.

Blood stocks are constantly in need of replenishing, and NHS Blood and Transport is always on the look out for more donors.

If you are aged between 17 and 66 and are relatively fit and healthy, then why not think about giving up the time to give up a small amount of your life blood.

It won’t have a huge effect on you, but it could make all the difference in the world to someone who’s life is on the line.