Canadian Blood Services supplies were boosted Tuesday afternoon thanks to more than 81 donations collected in a mobile clinic set up in the gym at Delta Secondary.
Grade 12 student Teaghan Papadopoulos organized the event, with the help of Canadian Blood Services, as part of her Capstone project in memory of her late grandfather who, in 2020, was in hospital and required daily blood transfusions.
She also rolled up her sleeve to donate.
“The screening takes longest,” she said, adding that it’s an in-depth process but that it’s important.
She worked with Craig Nielsen, with Canadian Blood Services, to set up the mobile clinic.
She said she learned a lot about the process.
Papadopoulos plans on studying medicine when she graduates and will prepare a slide show presentation explaining how the event went. A Capstone project allows a student to focus on a particular topic in the field in which they’re interested.
Teaghan’s mom Terynn, also helped and said the process of donating blood was easy, adding that she saw lots of family and friends.
“It was neat to see some of the young kids come out and get them on the journey of blood donation at 17,” Terynn said.
“Having my classmates here was really fun,” Teaghan added.
Canadian Blood Services operates more than 13,000 blood and plasma donation clinics every year across the country and has 35 permanent donor centres.
The objective was to have 81 successful blood donations at the clinic, but that number was exceeded. Each blood donation has the potential to save up to three lives, Nielsen said.
The next blood donor clinic in South Delta is March 25, at the Ladner Community Centre, 4734 — 51st St.
Canadian Blood Services’ national inventory (except Quebec) last week showed a 21-day supply of AB+ blood type, with only a five-day supply for O- blood type.
