(RDP Athletics)

By rdnewsNOW staff

Food Drive Feb. 10-18

Red Deer Polytechnic student-athletes roll up their sleeves for a good cause

Feb 9, 2023 | 11:21 AM

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.

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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.

Back in 2000, officials say Walton was diagnosed with a rare bile disease called Primary Sclerosing Cholangitis (PSC), which is thought to be an auto-immune disorder. The body’s immune system attacks the cells of the bile ducts, causing them to scar leading to the deterioration of the liver tissue and later, liver failure. He received his first liver transplant in 2017 and then back in 2021, he needed another transplant.

The head coach reminisced on his first memory of talking about organ donation.

“Sitting at the kitchen table, my mom explained what it meant to be an organ donor, and I remember thinking how strange it would be for my body parts to be used for donation. I eventually signed my donor card, never ever suspecting that I would be a person in need of a transplant.”

The transplant process is not as magical as television makes it seem. For 15-plus years, Walton knew he was going to need a transplant, but he could not do anything about the process as he had to wait to be sick enough to be placed on the waitlist.

The coach explained what a difficult time this was for him.

“On one hand I do not want to get sicker as I felt terrible already. On the other hand, the doctors told me I needed to get sicker, so I ended up waiting to get even sicker. By this time, I probably had 12 months to live and had to continue to get sicker to move up the list.”

After multiple days of hoping the phone would ring to let him know a liver is ready for transplant, he finally got the call. Walton packed up his hospital bag, contacted people to let them know, paid his bills, and headed to the hospital very much knowing he was about to go through a complicated and risky surgery.

The long-time volleyball coach says he is very thankful to the medical system for finding him a suitable donor liver and helping him through the surgery and recovery.

Walton explained how volleyball was an important part of his recovery.

“I would coach myself to work harder, embrace the process, keep on trying until I got it correct, and use the team as a support system. So many volleyball lessons, and members of the team helped me stay strong during the process.

(RDP Athletics)

Over the course of Walton’s medical procedures in the last eight years, he estimates he has used 12 units of blood and the need for more blood for people like himself or others in medical situations remains a priority.

He says he was very proud of the members of the Queens Volleyball team, who rolled up their sleeves and donated blood, some of whom are first-time donors.

“You can make a difference. It is a difference that can not be measured. It is an unspeakable gratitude that fills this entire gymnasium and beyond. I am forever grateful.”

The next initiative the council is moving forward with is a food drive which will take place from February 10-18. RDP Athletics officials say the food can be dropped off at the games this weekend or next and it will be donated to the Red Deer Food Bank.