New twist on drinking game could save lives

He took his inspiration from an online drinking game with disastrous consequences, but David McCarthy’s take on Neknomination is designed to save rather than cost lives.

After his friend was diagnosed with bone marrow cancer, the Cork man came up with the idea of not just donating his own blood but also encouraging others via social media.

Speaking to thejournal.ie, the 35-year-old said he was upset when he heard about the cancer diagnosis of best friend Pete Morrissey.

“I was thinking he needs a lot of blood transfusions and I used to give it before — I stopped about a year and a half ago,” said Mr McCarthy. “I was thinking of the Neknomination and thought I might as well try to even get a couple of people in so I said it to Pete and he said ‘yeah’.”

Mr McCarthy posted his ‘Bloodnomination’ online and nominated friends to do it.

“When I was talking to the nurse, she was saying the summer is the quietest time for giving blood so if it’d get more people to do it it’d be great,” he said. “They’re not just donating blood, people are donating platelets too and it makes a big difference.”

Mr McCarthy said he would encourage people all across the country to jump on board the Bloodnomination bandwagon in honour of his friend and other cancer patients who will benefit from it.

The campaign seems to be working. Another friend of Mr McCarthy, Kenny Donovan, is also pictured donating blood on his Facebook page.

As of yesterday, Mr McCarthy said he knew of about 20 people who had already responded but that it was becoming difficult to keep track.

“Pete starts his treatment today, so fingers crossed,” he said.

The campaign is a far cry from Neknomination, where those nominated had to quickly drink a pint of alcohol, and post a picture or video of themselves doing so on Facebook. As the game gained in popularity, nominees took on the added challenge of consuming alcohol in extreme circumstances.

The craze is believed to be behind at least five deaths in Ireland and Britain.