Josephine Michaluk of Penhold has donated blood more than 200 times, a Guinness World Record. (Supplied)

By Josh Hall | @Vancan19

give the gift of life

Penhold launches blood donor challenge in honour of World Record holder

Feb 3, 2024 | 2:42 PM

The Town of Penhold is launching what it calls the Penhold Cares Central Alberta Community Blood Drive Challenge.

The challenge is in honour of Penhold resident and World Record holder Josephine Michaluk, who in October 2023 was recognized for her achievement of most whole blood donated by a female.

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Michaluk, urging others to take up the cause, has been donating blood for five decades, and in September 2022, gave for the 203rd time. She’ll hit 209 this month.

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“You don’t know when you are going to need blood,” she says. “Even if you just donate once, you get a card with your blood type on it. If you need blood, they know you blood type.”

The challenge will run the whole of February, with central Alberta residents asked to make an appointment and give blood at the Canadian Blood Services donation centre in Red Deer. Anyone who donates blood in February will be able to indicate which of six zones they are from to see which area of central Alberta had the most donors.

The six zones are the town of Penhold, the city of Red Deer, West of QEII/North of HWY 592 (Zone 1), East of QEII/North of HWY 42 (Zone 2), West of QEII/South of Hwy 592 (Zone 3), and East of QEII/South of HWY 42 (Zone 4).

“We are all excited to have a Penhold resident accomplish such a tremendous feat, and further to be recognized in the Guinness Book of World Records. We are proud to honour Josephine with the Penhold Cares Campaign,” Penhold Mayor Mike Yargeau says.

“We are encouraging residents of Penhold, and central Alberta, to head into Red Deer and donate blood this month. To make things a little more fun, we are challenging all other areas of central Alberta to see which region can bring in the most donors this month.”

Canadian Blood Services needs to collect 1,224 units of blood in Red Deer this month to keep up with demand.

The Red Deer Donor Centre is located at #5 5020 68th Street and is open Wednesdays and Thursdays from 2:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m., and Fridays and Saturdays from 9:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.

Make your appointment to donate blood online at blood.ca or through the GiveBlood app.