Chippenham blood recipient and leukaemia survivor, Joe Pearson, is backing a new campaign to help recruit 1,000 new blood donors in the Bath and Wiltshire area during 2012.

Joe, 17, was diagnosed with Acute Lymphoblastic Leukaemia in December 2007 when he was 13 years old.

He went through three years of treatment which included intensive chemotherapy and during his first year of treatment, received nine units of blood and platelets.

In August 2011 he also underwent a hip replacement due to the steroids he had taken which caused damage to his hip bone.

During the operation irradiated blood was on standby in case he needed it again.

Joe said: "My life was saved by a stranger and for that I am eternally grateful.

"I was not expecting to need transfusions this early in my life, this shows us how unexpected life can be.

"So please give blood and help others, you never know if you will need it yourself.”

Joe is now in remission and is enjoying life. He is currently studying for BTEC's in Health and Social Care and Sport and is hoping to go to college next year to study childcare.

The campaign, led by NHS Blood and Transplant, will launch on Wednesday in Chippenham town centre at 10am where Joe will unveil the campaign adverts painted on the street floor.

Recruitment events will take place on the following dates:

* Wednesday, Bath Southgate shopping centre,(Southgate Place);

* Thursday, launch in Chippenham town centre, (outside New Look);

* Thursday, April 12, Devizes town centre, (The Bear Hotel, Market Place);

* Saturday, April 14, Bath Southgate shopping centre, (Southgate Place);

* Thursday, April 19, Devizes town centre (The Bear Hotel, Market Place).

Jonathan Sewell, Lead Donor Relations Manager for NHSBT said: "We hope people in Bath and Wiltshire will come forward to give blood on a regular basis.

"We are so pleased blood was able to help Joe as part of his treatment and would like to thank him for his support.

"It only takes one donation to help save the lives of up to three people, so your donation could make the difference to a number of lives."

Anyone wanting to donate for the first time should be aged between 17-65, weigh at least 50kg (7 stone 12lbs) and be in general good health.

If you’ve donated before, you can start again up to your 70th birthday and there is no upper age limit for donors who have donated in the last two years.

To find out more or to book an appointment, call the Donor Line on 0300 123 23 23 or visit www.blood.co.uk.