Blood is a precious commodity. Everyday, lives are saved because doctors can access blood that has been kindly donated by those who receive nothing more than a cup of tea and one - or in some cases 2! - caramel wafers.

- Dr Chris Hoy, Flanker

While preparing for the impending warm fuzzy glow of celebrating Christmas with family and friends, wading through the shops (click, click...) for gifts, picking the most sober Auntie to sit next to at the table, and counting the days till the Leith Rugby Hogmanay party, it is of course worth sparing some thought and energy for those for whom Christmas can be a far more desperate time of year.

The Leith squad have been trying to do their bit this month, with a visit to the Leith leg of The Scottish National Blood Transfusion Service's Christmas Blood Drive, on Wednesday, December 7. In a match which saw some grown men (and some WAGs!) feel pain, some go weak at the knees and much blood spent, members of the playing squad (plus a few WAGs!) donated at Leith Town Hall. However on this occasion there was no opposition, only winners. Flanker, Dr Chris Hoy said "a big thanks to all those from the squad who volunteered. Those who receive your blood will range from the newborns, to their mothers who have lost blood in childbirth, those who have been involved in accidents, and countless surgical patients. They are unable to thank you in person, but are very grateful, I am sure."

Leith Rugby are also proud to support the Caring Christmas Trees website project, operated by Bethany Christian Trust, and members of the squad bagged up the trees for Christmas shoppers at Ocean Terminal on Saturday December 17th. Every tree sold raises vital funds for the Edinburgh Winter Care Shelter to bring rough sleepers in from the cold. And with increasing numbers of people seeking shelter over the winter months, it’s a sad fact that this service is needed more than ever.

Check out the boys and girls donating blood, (and enjoying their caramel wafers) as well as those selling Christmas trees here.

To find out more about giving blood check out the Scotblood website.

To find out more about the work of Bethany Christian Trust at their website, and while the trees are now all sold, you can still donate to the Caring Christmas Trees project.