On Sunday (November 14), Amber completed the gruelling Beach to Brother half marathon.

Any half marathon is a slog, but finishing with a run up North Brother Mountain is something only the bravest of runners would attempt.

Even though it may not be the ideal shirt to run in for 21.2 kilometres of road, beach and bush, Amber completed the event in a Lifeblood t-shirt, promoting the importance of donating with every step.

Because if it wasn't for the generosity of donors, Amber would not be here today.

As she welcomed her new baby into the world Amber started to realise something was seriously wrong.

Hours later she found herself in surgery with her family anxiously waiting for good news.

Fortunately, she pulled through but will always credit the anonymous blood donors for saving her life and ensuring her beautiful baby grew up with a mum.

Amber received eight units of blood and three units of plasma during the ordeal.

Amber is now a committed blood donor.

Her blood is particularly important because it is O negative. O Negative is the universal blood type and can be given to anyone in an emergency like those involved in road accidents, when there simply isn't time to find out their blood type. Only nine per cent of Australians have O Negative blood, but it makes up 16 per cent of orders from hospitals because it saves lives in emergencies.

Amber was in good Lifeblood company on Sunday with the first woman across the line in the full marathon, the donor centres' very own Nicole Wilding.

Nicole works at both the Taree and Port Macquarie donor centres and is passionate about her work with Lifeblood and being a blood donor.

"Every blood donor is a life saver. I feel privileged to work for such a fantastic cause knowing that what we are doing is saving lives," she said.

"Knowing that Amber was able to run on Sunday because of the generosity of donors makes the event so very special."

To book a donation visit lifeblood.com.au, call 13 14 95 or download the free DonateBlood App.

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