Lethbridge Hurricanes, Red Deer Rebels renew off-ice rivalry for a good cause

LETHBRIDGE – The Lethbridge Hurricanes and Red Deer Rebels will go head to head in more than one way Saturday (Jan. 7) night.
 
The two face off at the ENMAX Centre at 7:00 p.m., but that also marks the start of a blood drive to see which team can bring in the most donations for Canadian Blood Services throughout January.
 
Two-year old Mason Lammers, who’s relied on blood donors from a very young age, will drop the puck alongside his mom Karli Doll and dad Troy Lammers.
 
Karli explained previously that at just over six months old, Mason was diagnosed with Acute Myeloid Leukemia, which meant he needed a stem cell transplant right away. Chemotherapy drove the cancer into remission, but because of the toll the treatment inflicted on Mason’s body, he required at least 15 blood transfusions while he waited for a stem cell match.
 
“You are honestly giving people another chance with their child, you’re giving a mother another hug, you’re giving a father another kiss, you’re allowing moments to be made, memories to be made. Sometimes, unfortunately with cancer patients it’s a grim outcome, we’re lucky that it wasn’t with us, but when you have a child that has cancer, you’re living day by day, moment by moment.

“When you make a blood donation or stem cell transplant, it’s giving us another day, another week, another month, another year, and we thrive on that, we need that… You’re giving these families more moments,” Karli continued.
 
Belinda Tomiyama, Territory Manager for Canadian Blood Services, noted that every person who joins the registry gives approximately 500 patients waiting for stem cell transplants more hope.
 
About 100,000 new donors are needed every year to meet demand, and it can take up to 50 units of blood to save a single car crash victim, according to other Canadian Blood Services statistics.
 
To book your life-saving appointment, visit www.blood.ca or download the Give Blood app.