A father-daughter duo from Medicine Hat are celebrating their combined 200th blood donation; an achievement they hope will motivate others to donate as the need for blood grows.
Randy and Sonia Laughlin were met with congratulations from staff and fellow donors Monday, as they moved through the Canadian Blood Services’ mobile donor centre. The pair – who both started donating blood in their teens – have long been regulars at the centre and were glad to share in the milestone together.
“We’ve known for a couple of years it would eventually come, so we’ve kind of been keeping track of where we each were,” Randy told the News.
Despite knowing they would soon pass the 200th combined donation, the Laughlins were pleasantly surprised to find they had coincidentally been scheduled for the same date and time slot – a rare occurrence as differing donor regulations for men and women often result in them operating on different eligibility schedules.
“It’s been a fun day,” said Randy. “And it matters. It makes a difference. I think all of those who can give something to our communities, should. So, this is the thing we do.”
A donor of more than 40 years, Randy first gave blood on a dare, but said he kept up with it because of the impact it has for individuals who are ill or injured.
“When I went up to Lethbridge several years ago to receive a Canadian Blood Services Award, there was a 26 year-old leukemia survivor, who was alive because of people who had donated blood,” he said. “She had received multiple transfusions in her life, and she wouldn’t have stood in front of us that day if it weren’t for us.”
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