Cancer patient Tameeka Ieremia owes her life to zombies.

The post-apocalyptic creatures usually take lives rather than save them, but a zombie army that has risen up in Adelaide is helping ensure the city has a stable blood supply.

The Adelaide Zombie Walk group is part of Red 25 – a team of community groups, schools and workplaces across the nation who donate blood to help achieve 25 per cent of Australia’s annual blood collection, or 1.3 million donations each year, to meet patient demand.

The zombies – who will stage their annual charity walk on October 15 – are a group of regular donors who have so far donated 42 times this year, benefiting patients like Ms Ieremia, 22, of Elizabeth Grove.

She has needed almost eight litres of blood via 45 blood and platelet transfusions since she was diagnosed with acute promyelocytic leukaemia in March this year.

Ms Ieremia is urging people to donate much needed blood this long weekend as the Australian Red Cross Blood Service is on the hunt for more than 150 blood donations over the break.

“I didn’t realise how important it (blood donation) was until I actually started receiving it,” she said.

“It’s something people should really consider doing – you actually are genuinely saving people’s lives.”

Blood Service spokeswoman Rebecca DiGirolamo said donating blood helped a range of people.

“Over long weekends, it’s vital that we maintain blood supplies, especially platelets – a blood component needed by cancer patients like Tameeka undergoing chemotherapy,” she said.

“Platelets have a five-day shelf life which means the Blood Service needs a constant flow of blood donors, without interruption.”

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