Mckayla Mawhinney is a grade 12 student who has a blood disorder that means that she has spent many hours in the emergency room.
As part of her grade 12 capstone project, she’s looking for a way to give back to Canadian Blood Services, which has helped her so much.
So she’s trying to arrange for Canadian Blood Services to come Tumbler Ridge to collect blood.
Donating blood in BC has become much more difficult over the years. These days, the only place to donate blood is either in Kelowna or the Lower Mainland.
And, while that covers about 70 percent of the province, there are many people outside these areas that are willing, and indeed want, to donate blood.
“I feel like this is my time to give back to everyone that’s helped me, says Mawhinney. “Blood is needed in many tragic accidents, surgeries, cancer treatments, chronic illnesses child birth…many different reasons. I’ve seen the need in my life. One pint can change a life.”
Indeed, she says, one pint can save up to three lives.
She says that donations are important because blood cannot be manufactured. “Hospitals depends entirely on volunteer donors.”
Her plan, she says, is to host a community blood drive in coordination with Canadian blood services. “They would manage all the medical staffing, equipment, the donor screening and all the safety protocols as well.”
And her goal? Is to find at least 500 people willing to donate blood.
Mawhinney appeared before Council last month to request their support. She’s hoping to use rooms four and five at the Community Centre to host the blood drive.
Why the 500 person number? That’s the minimum number that Canadian Blood Services needs to fire up their mobile donation vehicle and come to Tumbler Ridge. “A strong turnout is needed for this blood drive. So I’m exploring a broader outreach to get participation from local industries like mines and the oil and gas industries, as well as with wind energy companies.”
However, she says she’s encountered a lot of roadblocks. “Working with Canadian Blood Services has been hard. I’ve been getting a lot of doubt if someone my age can pull something this big off. It is definitely a huge thing to be doing.”
That’s why she’s hoping to enlist council in her mission. In addition to being able to use rooms four and five, she’s hoping the District can provide assistance with promotion and community involvement. “So, posting the event on the District website, displaying the event on the community billboard, sharing the event throughout town and in general, trying to get as many people as we can involved.”
As well, she says she needs help reaching all the local businesses, as well as guidance on any permits, policies and facility requirements.
“A blood drive like this would strengthen community engagement, demonstrate commitment to public health and highlight youth leadership and responsibility. It encourages collaboration with the town, the residents, and local industries and businesses. If I can get everyone together to donate, it provides life-saving resources to the health care systems as well.
Mawhinney says she’s hoping to do this towards the end of the school year—May or June—but no date has been set yet.
Trent is the publisher of Tumbler RidgeLines.
