Blakelock’s Blood Drive: Just My Type

Written by: Kieran Roy

Photo by: Tvisha Chaturvedi

Edited by: Roxana Ghorbani

Over the past month, I-STEM students have been working hard to organize a school-wide blood drive in partnership with Canadian Blood Services. Their goal was to recruit recently eligible Grade 12 students to roll up their sleeves and help strengthen Canada’s healthcare system.

Canadian Blood Services is a non-profit organization that collects, tests, and processes blood, plasma, and stem cells nationwide. They distribute these blood products to healthcare providers for patients all across Canada. Their mission is to maintain a steady and reliable blood supply for all Canadians. 

However, hospital demand for blood is rising across Canada. “Today, more patients need blood products than we have seen over the past decade,” says Dr. Kathryn Webert, medical director for Canadian Blood Services. We need 1 million new donors by 2030 to fuel Canada’s lifeline. Without a steady influx of donors, lives are on the line. Statistics show that someone in Canada needs blood every 80 seconds.

Young people are particularly important for this cause because young donors are healthier and there tend to be fewer complications for first-time donors. Studies suggest that starting to donate blood from a young age can reduce the risks of heart disease and other future issues.

This event took place last Friday and was a huge success! Flyers were posted in every classroom, and a countdown to the event was shared on Instagram. The students helped organize a “Lifebus” to take participants to the donation center. Ten Grade 12 students volunteered, and they all left feeling proud that they made a real impact on someone’s life. One donor shared that she had previously needed a blood transfusion for a previous condition, and was thrilled to be giving back. Thank you to everyone who helped make this drive a success!