Gardaí to cycle 1,000km to bank a month’s supply of blood

A man whose dying son made it to his 21st birthday thanks to blood transfusions is now setting out to bank a remarkable month’s supply of blood.

Garda Stephen Roe said he and 17 colleagues are embarking on a gruelling 1,000km blood donor recruitment cycle next month because he and his family enjoyed five extra years with their late son Alex thanks solely to blood donations.

“We have no doubt about it — Alex would have died without the transfusions. We are just so grateful for the extra years with him,” Stephen said.