Representatives from Canadian Blood Services, MADD Lethbridge & Area, local emergency services and auto dealerships mark the campaign launch (Lethbridge News Now)

By Justin Goulet

Drive to Save Lives

MADD Lethbridge and Canadian Blood Services team with local auto dealers to launch annual campaign

Jul 29, 2019 | 12:14 PM

LETHBRIDGE, AB – At least 270 donors are needed to walk through the doors at the Lethbridge blood donor clinic next month.

That’s according to Lisa Castro, Territory Manager with Canadian Blood Services. Castro was on hand at Dunlop Ford in Lethbridge Monday morning to mark the launch of the Drive to Save Lives campaign.

The Drive to Save Lives campaign challenges local auto dealerships to donate blood throughout the month of August.

“It’s (blood donation) important because every minute of every day, someone in Canada needs blood and for someone in a car accident, it can take up to 50 donors to save someone’s life,” she said.

Castro said that in Lethbridge, there are around 70 appointments that need to be filled at the blood donation centre over the upcoming long weekend alone.

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The campaign is also a partnership with MADD (Mothers Against Drunk Driving) Lethbridge & Area and the local chapter was inspired in part by a tragedy that occurred on August 16, 2013.

The stepson of MADD’s past national president, Nicholas Terrance Coates, was killed after being hit by an impaired driver while riding his motorcycle in St. John’s, Newfoundland.

Lethbridge News Now photo

According to current MADD Lethbridge & Area President Anita Huchula, the 27-year-old Coates received several blood donations before succumbing to his injuries in hospital.

Outside of Dunlop Ford, 50 people involved with the Drive to Save Lives campaign gathered for a photo opportunity during the Monday morning launch.

“The idea behind the 50 people is that when you are involved, whether it’s (in) an accident or an impaired crash, and you sustain internal injuries, that it takes approximately 50 donations or more to sustain your life,” Huchula said.

She added that as part of the campaign, they are putting the focus on blood donations as opposed to financial donations. However, Canadian Blood Services will accept financial support.

“As far as we’re concerned, we work very well together (with Canadian Blood Services) because quite often in an impaired crash, you do need medical services, so you may require the services of blood to sustain your life. That’s why it’s a common ground for both of us to work together,” Huchula said.

Shaun Henderson, a dealer partner with Dunlop Ford, said it’s an honour to be a part of the campaign.

“It’s in line with our mission statement, you know we want to do the right thing for the community,” he told media on Monday.

This is the second year in a row dealerships have partnered with Canadian Blood Services and MADD for the summer initiative.

“We’re a family business and we’ve been in the local area since 1964. We’ve put a lot of vehicles on the road. Mothers Against Drunk Driving of course, that involves driving and the (Canadian) Blood Services as well. We just feel a responsibility to ensure that we’re not just involved in the sales side of things, but we’re involved in the passive and helping the community out when there are needs as well.”

“The support that we’re gaining from all the involvement of all the different dealerships across Lethbridge is huge for us. It’s building that awareness in the community,” Castro added.

“A lot of people don’t realize is that the only way that you can get blood is by someone else’s generosity. So really, trying to build that awareness in the community and bringing out more new donors to support Canadian Blood Services.”

She said that over the next year, they’re looking for at least 100,000 new donors.

“Anyone can be a hero by being a blood donor and we’re really encouraging Lethbridge residents to come out and support.”

Anyone interested in donating can visit blood.ca or call 1 888 2 DONATE (1-888-236-6283). The Drive to Save Lives campaign is on from August 1 to 31, 2019.