A thank you for blood donor

Shania Fox (16), who has acute lymphoblastic leukaemia, and her mother, Sharon, give plasma donor Angus Dowson (20) a gift of chocolate and a stress-ball to thank him for donating ahead of World Blood Donor Day on Sunday.

The Dunedin teenager, diagnosed in September 2013, received blood from 3061 donors in her first three months of treatment.

That was during the intensive phase, and although she had needed transfusions since, they had been much fewer.

Shania does not finish treatment until January.

This year, she has been back at Kavanagh College after more than a year's absence.

During her absence, she continued to study from home, attaining NCEA level 1.

Shania visited the Dunedin donor centre yesterday to give out the treats and chat to donors.