Healthy helpers
Three siblings are on a determined path to care for others
The volunteer spirit just flows through these three Charlottetown siblings.
The trio is happily putting in time at Canadian Blood Services monitoring patients and administering food and beverages. They are also helping to sanitize the facility.
The siblings not only give freely of their time, but they are also making life-saving donations of blood.
Alexa MacKay, 22, set an altruistic path for her two younger siblings – Riley and Rachel – to follow.
She started the UPEI Blood Donation Club in September 2018 with the goal of encouraging students to donate blood. The initiative has resulted in an impressive response with between 150 and 200 students choosing to roll up their sleeves in fewer than two years.
“It feels great,’’ Alexa says of rallying her peers to give blood.
Riley, 20, says his older sister was the biggest influence in his decision to get involved with the UPEI Blood Donation Club. He is currently vice-president.
Rachel anticipates getting involved in the club as well if she goes to UPEI.
Alexa plans to continue donating blood for years to come.
“I don’t see why not,’’ she says. “I encourage anyone who is able to go donate.’’
Riley was donating plasma once every two weeks until the pandemic resulted in the clinic in Charlottetown only accepting whole blood for the time being.
Like his sister, he also plans to be a regular donor for a long time.
“It’s too easy not to do,’’ he says.
“It has a profound impact on others. … I definitely see myself donating plasma for the rest of my life.’’
Rachel, who turned 17 earlier this year – the minimum age required to donate blood, plans to give the gift of life as well.
The siblings have strong role models in their parents
– Todd and Tracy MacKay – in sharing the desire to help others.
Todd, who donates blood, is a pharmacist, and Tracy is a community public health nurse.
Unfortunately, Tracy is unable to donate blood due to health reasons.
Alexa, Riley and Rachel are all looking to pursue careers in the health field, just like mom and dad.
Alexa, who has just raduated with a degree in biology, wants to become a paramedic.
“A paramedic can be the difference between a positive outcome and a very negative outcome in an emergency,’’ she says, “and I want to look back and know I made that positive difference in people’s lives.’’
Riley, a second-year biology student, says he has been immersed in the health field environment growing up with his parents’ professions.
He is ambitiously setting his sights on becoming a pediatric plastic surgeon.
“The medical field presents different challenges almost every day that involves a lot of teamwork,’’ he says.
Rachel, a Grade 11 student at Colonel Gray High School, says her parents have been a major influence in her decision to pursue a career in the health field.
She hopes to become a dermatologist.
She could not imagine working outside the health field.
“I think to me it’s the fact that you are helping people,’’ she says.