Two Manchester siblings who have shared their story of the life-changing power of blood donation were among the 300 VIP guests who were the first to watch the brand new Black Panther: Wakanda Forever film.
Charming and Zenith Seyi-Abiodun have previously shared their incredible story with the Manchester Evening News , and are now part of a new NHS campaign to recruit more Black heritage blood donors.
As a thank you for their support, 17-year-old Charming and his sister, Zenith, 19, attended the screening of the new Marvel film at Hackney Picturehouse in London on November 10 - before the highly anticipated film went on general release.
READ MORE: Dad-of-four stunned after British Gas bill soars from £250 to £1,320 a month
Charming has sickle cell and needs regular transfusions to stay alive, and so Zenith shared the experience of her first blood donation - despite her fear of needles - in a video that is used as part of a new NHS campaign to show how quick and easy giving blood is.
It comes as NHS Blood and Transplant has partnered with the Marvel Studios film in the next stage in its ‘Not Family, But Blood’ campaign to encourage more people of Black heritage to donate blood to help sickle cell patients, amongst others.
The siblings, from Gorton, were joined at Thursday evening’s screening by patients, donors and NHS Blood and Transplant partners and supporters.
Charming was diagnosed with sickle cell at birth, and needs regular transfusions to stay alive. He had his first painful episode, known as a crisis, when he was 22 months old, began having blood transfusions at the age of seven and now has red cell exchanges every month which help him to lead a normal life. He is currently studying for a BTEC in Engineering at Hopwood Hall College in Middleton.
Zenith, a business management student, said: “The film was so touching and beautiful and it felt so special to be among the first people in the country to see it. It was a unique and amazing experience. I can’t stop talking about it to all my friends.
“Of course the experience had extra meaning for us because blood donors are a lifeline for Charming. He felt so happy and grateful that so many people were there to support others like him.
“As soon as I got home I booked my next donation. I am sure that others who were there that night will also have been inspired to give blood and will hopefully encourage their family and friends to do so too.”
The ‘Not Family, But Blood’ campaign generated record numbers of registrations from people of Black African and Black Caribbean heritage when it launched in October.
In the first day 884 people of Black heritage signed up to donate – the highest ever single day figure. During the first week there were 1,866 registrations from people of Black Caribbean and Black African heritage - a 700 percent uplift on the previous week.
It is hoped the collaboration with Marvel Studios will further boost the campaign by reaching more people of Black heritage, particularly younger film fans who may not have considered blood donation.
People aged 16-24 are especially needed as they are the ‘donors of the future’. The average age of Black heritage donors registering in the first week of the campaign was 31.
Zeeshan Asghar, Head of Commercial Partnerships for NHS Blood and Transplant, said: “We were delighted to welcome Charming and Zenith to the preview screening as part of our collaboration with Marvel Studios’ Black Panther: Wakanda Forever. We very much hope they enjoyed the event.
“By sharing their personal stories, Charming and Zenith have helped to raise awareness of the life-changing difference blood donors make for people like Charming who rely on matched blood.
“We hope that the Black Panther: Wakanda Forever collaboration will help us to reach a new Black audience with this powerful message, and encourage more people of Black African and Black Caribbean heritage to become blood donors.”
Black Panther: Wakanda Forever is the sequel to 2018’s critically acclaimed and global cultural phenomenon, Black Panther, one of the most beloved films of the Marvel Cinematic Universe. The new movie, which is in cinemas now, sees the Wakandans strive to embrace their next chapter, fighting to protect their nation from intervening world powers in the wake of King T’Challa’s death.
The ‘Not Family But Blood’ NHS campaign aims to highlight that “although the Black community is diverse, one unifying thing is the power to provide life changing blood donations. This thought is amplified in the people of Wakanda – different tribes, but together they are stronger, supporting and protecting their community.”
Ethnically matched blood provides the best treatment for sickle cell and more Black heritage donors are urgently needed to meet increasing demand. Hospitals in England now need 250 donations every day to treat sickle cell compared with 150 five years ago.
Co-branded Black Panther: Wakanda Forever content is being shared across NHS Blood and Transplant, Disney and Marvel Studios social channels with a call to action for people to register as a blood donor.
Dr Farrukh Shah, Medical Director of Transfusion for NHS Blood and Transplant, said: “The critical shortage of blood donations from people of a Black heritage means many sickle cell patients often receive less well-matched blood.
“While this is clinically suitable, it can pose a longer-term risk to patients who receive regular transfusions. We urgently need more Black heritage donors to come forward. Giving blood is quick, easy and safe.”
This is NHS Blood and Transplant’s third blood donation film partnership with Disney and its second with Marvel Studios following collaborations with Free Guy in 2021 and Doctor Strange In the Multiverse of Madness earlier this year.
READ NEXT:
- ITV I'm A Celebrity viewers get the 'ick' as they make same remarks over scenes just before exit announcement
- ITV I'm A Celebrity viewers 'sick' as they make Owen Warner observation minutes into first elimination episode
- ITV I'm A Celebrity viewers say public has 'no taste' as Charlene White is first to leave the jungle
- ITV I'm A Celebrity's Charlene White finally gives reason for RV refusal and tells Loose Women secret
- ITV I'm A Celebrity viewers concerned for Coronation Street star Sue Cleaver after spotting detail as husband speaks out
