Deadpool stars urge Sheffield’s film fans to give blood

15 July 2024
Family Life

Not all heroes wear capes: Ryan Reynolds and Hugh Jackman urge Sheffield film fans to come together and give blood

NHS and Marvel Studios’ Deadpool & Wolverine team up to celebrate the release of the new movie, in cinemas Thursday July 25
Call for more 17-35 year olds, those with O negative blood and people of Black heritage, to register as blood donors and save lives
Visit www.blood.co.uk, the GiveBloodApp or call 0300 123 23 23 to sign up and book an appointment

Hollywood superstars Ryan Reynolds and Hugh Jackman are calling on film fans in Sheffield to be ‘heroes’ by becoming blood donors in an exciting collaboration between NHS Blood and Transplant and Marvel Studios’ Deadpool & Wolverine movie.

The actors star in an NHS video where they explain that while Deadpool & Wolverine features plenty of fake blood, it is real blood that is needed to save lives – and urge viewers to book an appointment to donate.

The video will be shared on social media and shown in cinemas with the tagline: ‘Be the giving type’, encouraging people to come together and also nods to the movie uniting the two Marvel characters for the first time.

It is hoped that the collaboration with Deadpool & Wolverine will reach people who may not have considered blood donation, particularly younger people and people of Black heritage who are especially needed.

In the video Hugh explains that it takes only one hour to save three lives before he and Ryan engage in the type of humorous banter which Deadpool is known for.

Ryan closes the video by urging viewers to book an appointment to donate before the pair make a tongue-in-cheek apology.

The video, which features clips from the movie, can be viewed below

Mark Chambers, Director of Donor Experience for NHS Blood and Transplant, said: ““Deadpool saves the day, but blood donors save lives. We hope film fans in Sheffield will be inspired to become a hero in their own story by giving blood.

“Right now, the NHS needs more young people to become the donors of the future. And we urgently need more donors of Black heritage to help patients who need ethnically matched blood.

“Giving blood is quick and easy and each donation saves up to three lives. Please register today and book an appointment to donate. After all, not all heroes wear capes and saving lives is more impressive than any superpower out there.”

This is NHS Blood and Transplant’s fourth blood donation film partnership with Disney following collaborations with Free Guy, Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness, and Black Panther: Wakanda Forever.

Every minute the NHS needs three lifesaving blood donations to play a vital role in fighting cancer, combatting conditions like sickle cell and treating those injured in accidents. Right now, there is a particular need for donors with O negative blood, which is the universal blood type and given to all patients in emergency situations.

Sheffield Donor Centre in Church Street has plenty of appointments available over the coming weeks.

A Department of Health and Social Care spokesperson said:

“Blood donors are real-life superheroes, and we’re so grateful to everyone who can step forward and help save lives. Getting the NHS back on its feet will need to be a national mission, and that includes the efforts of everyone who volunteers to give blood.”

About NHS Blood and Transplant

NHS Blood and Transplant is a joint England and Wales Special Health Authority. We provide the blood donation service for England and the organ donation service for the UK. We also provide donated tissues, stem cells and cord blood. We are an essential part of the NHS, saving and improving lives through public donation.
It is quick and easy to book an appointment to give blood. Call 0300 123 23 23 or visit www.blood.co.uk
NHSBT has 25 permanent donor centres in London (Tooting, Edgware, West End, Shepherd’s Bush and Stratford) Manchester (Plymouth Grove and Norfolk House), Cambridge, Luton, Nottingham, Sheffield, Leicester, Bradford, Leeds, Newcastle, Lancaster, Liverpool, Stoke, Birmingham, Bristol, Gloucester, Oxford, Southampton, Poole and Plymouth. Our mobile teams also collect blood at community venues such as church halls around the country.
NHS Blood and Transplant needs to collect 1.45 million units of blood each year to meet the needs of patients across England.
There are four main blood groups – O, A, B and AB. O negative (the universal blood group) and B negative are particularly vulnerable to shortfalls. So, we want people with those blood groups to donate as regularly as they can.
The NHS needs up to 200,000 new blood donors each year to replace those who stop donating and to ensure we have the right mix of blood groups to match patient needs in the future
We urgently need more Black heritage donors as they are more likely to have the blood type needed to treat the increasing number of patients suffering from sickle cell disease.
There is an urgent need for donors with Ro blood. Only 2% of our donors have Ro type blood. Collecting enough is a constant challenge. Ro is often used to save people with the rare blood disorder, sickle cell disease. Ro blood is ten times more common in black people than in white people.

About Marvel Studios’ ‘Deadpool & Wolverine’:
Marvel Studios’ “Deadpool & Wolverine” delivers the ultimate, iconic, cinematic team-up throwdown on July 25.

Shawn Levy directs “Deadpool & Wolverine,” which stars Ryan Reynolds, Hugh Jackman, Emma Corrin, Morena Baccarin, Rob Delaney, Leslie Uggams, Karan Soni, and Matthew Macfadyen.

Kevin Feige, Ryan Reynolds, Shawn Levy and Lauren Shuler Donner produce with Louis D’Esposito, Wendy Jacobson, George Dewey, Mary McLaglen, Josh McLaglen, Rhett Reese, Paul Wernick and Simon Kinberg serving as executive producers.

Marvel Studios’ “Deadpool & Wolverine” is written by Ryan Reynolds & Rhett Reese & Paul Wernick & Zeb Wells & Shawn Levy.

The Walt Disney Company UK’s Social Responsibility
At Marvel Studios, part of The Walt Disney Company, our purpose is to inspire a better world through the power of stories. As part of this, we are committed to operating our businesses responsibly and with integrity, taking care of our people and doing good in our world. This includes investing in the health and well-being of people and the planet and our partnership with NHS Blood and Transplant is another example of our continued efforts in this space, leveraging our storytelling to help make a difference. Our commitments, goals and progress is reported annually in The Walt Disney Company CSR report here. For more information on our programmes and our long-standing charitable partners, please visit https://thewaltdisneycompany.eu/

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