HomeMy WebLinkAboutHuron Expositor, 2005-11-30, Page 3News
Donors asked to give in Mackenzie Fisher's memory
Seaforth blood donor clinic next Monday hopes 'in memory' clinic will collect over 144 units
The Huron Expositor • November 30, 2005 Page 3
Susan H u n d e r t m a r k
Blood donors at Monday
Dec. 5's Seaforth clinic will
be able to give blood in hon-
our of Mackenzie Fisher,
who died from leukemia in
early September at age 18.
A request from the Fisher
family in Mackenzie's obitu-
ary that community mem-
bers become regular blood
donors as a tribute to their
son gave organizer Nancy
Denham the idea to hold the
clinic in his memory.
"I hope there would be at
least 100 people who would
want to come out for
Mackenzie's sake," says
Denham.
She says donors will be
given cards from Canadian
Blood Services, allowing
them to write down their
thoughts and any message
they hope to convey to the
Fisher family after giving
blood.
Mackenzie's dad, Bob,
says he knows of several
new donors because of
Mackenzie.
"In the obituary, we asked
people to give the gift of life
to honour Mackenzie," he
says.
Fisher, himself, gives
blood every six weeks and is
working towards a lifetime
goal of 100 pints.
"Mackenzie needed trans-
fusions quite often. He real-
ized how important giving
blood was," he says.
"I could never understand
why more people don't give
blood. Only 3.5 per cent of
Canadians give blood and
it's such a simple thing to
do," says Fisher.
While the goal for the clin-
ic is 144 units of blood,
Canadian Blood Services is
supplying 160 cards.
"We always go beyond the
target when we personalize
a clinic. In small communi-
Mackenzie Fisher
ties particularly, almost
everyone knows -the person,"
says Erin Brydon,
recruitment coordinator
for Canadian Blood
Services.
Denham says this is
the first time a Seaforth
blood donor clinic has
been organized in one
person's memory but she
adds that anyone who
wants to donate that day
in someone else's memo-
ry will also be encour-
aged.
During Mackenzie's 20 -
month fight against
leukemia, local people
were also encouraged to
give blood to help since
cancer patients often
need blood transfusions
to combat the debilitat-
ing effects of chemother-
apy.
"`In memory' clinics are
a fairly new program and
they have helped when
people feel helpless. It
definitely brings out new
blood donors.because this
is something they can
do," says Brydon.
She adds that the tim-
ing of the clinic is good
since the need for blood
is so great in December
with the busier roadways
and increased number of
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"The month of December
is when we feel it the most.
We always struggle this
time of year," she says.
But, she adds that
Seaforth blood donors are
"excellent," so much so in
fact that the number of
Seaforth clinics will be
increasing in 2006 to six, for
the first time ever.
"Seaforth donors come out
every single time. We have
just excellent clinics north
of London - we really
depend on them," she says.
Clinics scheduled next
year in Seaforth will be held
on Mondays and include
Feb. 6 in Mitchell, April 3,
June 5, Aug. 7, Oct. 2 and
Dec. 4.
Brydon encourages all
donors, especially first time
donors, to book to make an
appointment for the Dec. 5
clinic at 1-888-2DONATE
(236-6283).
The clinic runs from 1:30
to 8:30 p.m. at the Seaforth
and District Community
Centres.
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