Red Deer Polytechnic’s Student-Athletes Advisory Council recently joined forces with Canadian Blood Services for the third annual Bleed Green Campaign.
From January 14-31, the polytechnic’s student-athletes encouraged fellow teammates, friends, family, and community members to donate blood under RDP Athletics and support Canadian Blood Services.
Shamus Neeson, a Canadian Blood Services representative, explained this type of support can go a long way in helping the Red Deer community.
“This type of large-scale support from the student-athletes of RDP means that a larger number of patients across Canada receive the blood and blood product they need. Every minute of every day someone in Canada will need some blood. Even though one out of two Canadians can donate blood, one in 81 do. The more support we receive from the Red Deer community, the more people we can help.”
The student-athletes goal for 2023 is 233 blood donations, which got off to a great start in the month of January as officials say 25 people donated, which helped contribute to the 1,171 units of blood collected at the Red Deer donation centre. During this time, 105 new donors came through the centre, rolled up their sleeves and gave blood.
When the event kicked off on Jan. 14, after the Queens Volleyball match, Talbot Walton, who is the women’s head coach, spoke on his personal connection to the Bleed Green Campaign and the importance of donating. He encouraged others to not only donate blood but to sign up to be organ and tissue donors.
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