When’s the last time you gave a gift from the heart? No, we mean literally.
This Valentine’s Day, you have the opportunity to give the kind of love that could change someone’s life—we’re talking about giving blood, of course.
Canadian Blood Services is in need of donations this February, and though there is always a need for blood, the not-for-profit says that this time of year that need is amplified—after the holiday season, blood supplies tend to drop.
That means potentially putting healthcare providers behind the pace for providing blood in necessary procedures like heart surgeries, organ transplants, and cancer treatments.
In honour of giving blood, we’ve partnered with Canadian Blood Services to give away a delicious dinner from The Keg to one lucky winner—because you need to keep your iron levels up, of course.
In Victoria, it’s easy to give blood, and even easier to sign up to be a donor—just head online and check to see if you’re eligible!
We had a chat with some of our favourite local donors on their reasons why, and though all of their answers are a little different, they have one common thread—they do it to help others, and potentially save a life.
Scott, from Victoria, says without blood donors, he might not be here right now.
In July of 2016, Scott was struck by a car while out walking his dog, and as a result required 40 units of blood as he endured seven surgeries.
“I recently found out that on arrival at Vic General on that fateful day, MY blood was pouring off the ambulance gurney and spilling onto the floor. This was part of the official record, and I found it quite shocking and disconcerting,” he told Victoria Buzz
“I’ve made enough withdrawals from our blood bank. I’m concentrating on making deposits from here on.”
Bryan Capistrano, a local DJ from The Zone 91.3, says that for him, the question of “why?” actually started with “why not?”
“Several years ago we took The Zone to do a broadcast at Canadian Blood Services to highlight the need for blood donors. It was then that I asked myself, ‘why haven’t I been doing this?'” he told Victoria Buzz.
“So I sat in the chair and made my very first donation that day. And I’ve been donating on a regular basis every 56 days after that. Being in media, I’ve seen (and reported on) a lot of tragic stories from car accidents to natural disasters and it’s been hard to not feel helpless in those situations. Donating blood on a regular basis feels like pre-emptively helping such causes. And while it can’t always prevent bad things from happening, I can at least take solace in knowing that the donations I’ve made may be helpful.”
CONTEST
For your chance to win a $100 gift card to The Keg Steakhouse & Bar (you don’t have to be a donor to enter!), please do one or more of the following:
- LIKE Canadian Blood Services on Facebook and comment below telling us once you have. (1 entry)
- FOLLOW Canadian Blood Services on Instagram and comment below telling us once you have. (1 entry)
- FOLLOW Canadian Blood Services on Twitter and comment below telling us once you have. (1 entry)
- Let us know in the comment section below if you’ve donated blood, or if you plan to!
Contest entries will be accepted from the time and date of publishing until 11:59 p.m. on February 15th, 2022. Make sure to register when commenting below.
