Brock students, staff and faculty will have the opportunity to participate in a life-saving initiative this month as the Brock Leaders Citizenship Society partners with Canadian Blood Services (CBS) to host an on-campus blood donation event.
The event, which will be held on Nov. 25, aims to support the thousands of Canadians who rely on regular blood and plasma transfusions for life-threatening conditions. Currently, the national demand for plasma is four times greater than what is collected domestically. This shortage highlights the growing need for community involvement in blood and plasma donation programs, which play a critical role in maintaining a stable national supply. The event seeks to help close that gap by encouraging members of the Brock community to donate whole blood or plasma.
Whole blood donations will take place in the Ian Beddis Gymnasium from 10:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. Plasma donations will occur off campus at the St. Catharines Plasma Donation Centre between 4:00 p.m. and 6:00 p.m. on the same date. CBS will provide transportation for plasma donors going from Brock to the donation site and back, ensuring that those without access to personal transportation can still participate. Participants may also arrange their own transportation if preferred.
CBS notes that participants cannot donate both whole blood and plasma on the same day, though they can choose whichever program they prefer depending on their eligibility. Those who would like to participate in both whole blood and plasma donation will need to wait 56 days between each program.
Donor eligibility is determined by several factors, including age, weight and health status. Staff and students who are unsure whether they qualify can consult the eligibility guidelines provided by CBS prior to signing up. Additionally, prospective participants can learn more about the donation process on the CBS website.
Both programs follow rigorous health and safety protocols to protect donors and ensure that every unit collected meets the national standards for use in hospitals and treatment centres.
Those interested in the event will need to RSVP through ExperienceBU. Once registered, participants will receive follow-up instructions by email which will outline the next steps in confirming their appointment. Organizers recommend that interested individuals sign up early as donation appointments are limited and will be scheduled on a first-come, first-served basis.
In addition to supporting patients in need, this event is part of a larger initiative. CBS is currently running a Canada-wide “Get Together Campus Challenge” — a friendly competition among post-secondary institutions to encourage blood and plasma donations. The challenge tracks donations made by staff and students across participating campuses, with the goal of boosting national donor engagement. More information about the challenge can be found online.
CBS acknowledges that many potential donors may have some anxiety over the donation process. While stressing the impact of regular blood donation, CBS also debunks some common myths about blood donation. For example, CBS notes that it is common for potential donors to think that, since they don’t have a rare blood type, their donation is not needed. In response, CBS advises that your donation is “always needed and valuable” regardless of your blood type.
Additionally, CBS stresses the importance of having an ethnically diverse pool of blood donors. This is critical for people with rare blood types and individuals from diverse ethnic backgrounds — including those with mixed ancestry — as the likelihood of finding a stem cell match is significantly less than for those who are White. To ensure that the needs of patients from all communities in Canada are met consistently, a diverse blood supply is needed.
Through the upcoming event on Nov. 25, members of the Brock community have the opportunity to make a tangible impact and show some Badger pride.
For more information about whole blood and plasma donation, visit the Canada Blood Services website.