Gift of life
Truro blood clinic draws generous donors
When Janice McCurdy heard about the need for blood donors, she called on her co-workers from Andy’s Tire Shop in Truro to roll up their sleeves and contribute to the cause.
When Janice McCurdy heard about the need for blood donors, she decided to get her co-workers to join her in donating.
The response she received was overwhelmingly positive.
McCurdy and seven colleagues from Andy’s Tire Shop signed up and some family members decided to join them.
“It’s the first time we’ve done this as a work group and I was pleased and surprised by the response,” she said.
“Doing this as a group encouraged people to go, so I plan to continue.”
McCurdy grew up around family members who gave blood and she attended her first clinic in 2002.
“It definitely feels good to do this and know you’re helping someone,” she said. “If someone close to me needed blood I would be very glad people donated.”
It was the first time donating for Billy McNutt, one of McCurdy’s co-workers, and he found it is much quicker and easier than he expected.
“I have family members
who’ve needed blood so I know how important it is,” he said.
“My fiancée suggested donating before but I was always working. Now that I’ve done this once I’ll feel more comfortable about coming again.”
Another co-worker, Randy Skidmore, had donated in the past but hadn’t made it to a clinic recently. He said it was being part of an organized group that got him out again.
Truro Mayor Bill Mills has donated blood more than 20 times over the years and was out to the recent clinic.
“Some people do things like climb mountains for causes; this is an easier way to help,” he said.
Because storms prevented many people from getting to blood drives this winter, donations are down significantly.
Corey Matheson, event coordinator with Canadian Blood Services, said 789 donations were lost, due to weather, within a two-week period. That is more than was lost during all of 2016.
Another clinic is being held in Truro March 9 and it is only 33 per cent booked.
Anyone interested in filling one of the remaining spaces and helping save lives can register online at https://blood.ca/en/ donate or call 1-888-236-6283.