By Josh Hall and Troy Gillard

it's in you to give

Rebels and Hurricanes duel off-ice in annual Hockey Gives Blood challenge

Jan 4, 2020 | 12:59 PM

The Red Deer Rebels and Lethbridge Hurricanes are going at it once again, but not on the ice.

It’s that time of year where the two clubs challenge their fans to give the gift of life by donating blood through Canadian Blood Services. Hockey Gives Blood is on now through the end of January, with the Rebels striving for 150 appointments and 50 new donors.

Marissa Stryker, territory manager for Canadian Blood Services, says having player ambassadors is a huge deal.

“When the community sees players rolling up their sleeves, it causes such a ripple. We’re so grateful for the Red Deer Rebels,” she says, noting that each donation helps up to three people.

“The need for blood is constant. Every single day, we need to bring in 48 donors. We need 240 units a week to support local patients. Whether we’re doing a fun competition or it’s the middle of summer, we always need people coming in.”

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According to Stryker, the number one reason people don’t donate is because they’ve never been asked about doing it.

“There are so many people that regularly donate, but become ineligible because of tattoos and piercings, or they go on a new medication, or they went travelling, so new donors are great,” she explains.

“Statistics show that about 52 per cent of Canadians know someone who will need a blood product, or they will need one themselves in their lifetime. Yet, less than four per cent of eligible Canadians donate.”

Last year, Rebels fans donated blood 329 times, with 56 newcomers. Lethbridge won with 336 donors.

To book an appointment today, locate a donor centre (in Red Deer: 5020 68 St.), download the GiveBlood app available for iOS on the App Store or for Android on Google Play, or visit blood.ca.

You can also find out more about Hockey Gives Blood, which was formed in the wake of the Humboldt Broncos bus crash in 2018, by visiting www.hockeygivesblood.ca.