Canadian Blood Services (CBS) will be returning to Brock’s main campus this winter, offering two events for students.
According to Lilet Raffinan, the Manager for Business Development, Donor Relations & Field Operations at CBS, CBS’ on-campus blood donation event at Brock collected 118 units in November 2025, making a real difference for patients awaiting life-saving donations.
Staff and students that participate in the Feb. 4 swab event and/or the March 17 blood donation event can enter CBS’ “Give and Get Away” campaign for the chance to win two round-trip tickets to any destination scheduled by Air Canada.
Swab event, Feb. 4
On Feb. 4, CBS will be hosting a swab event from 10:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. CBS will have a table set up in Thistle Complex next to the top of the Market Hall Stairs, across from the Brock Card Office.
Like the previously hosted “Swab at School” campaign by CBS on post-secondary campuses, the Feb. 4 swab event aims to recruit Brock’s staff and students as potential stem cell donors. Those who attend the event will be asked to swab their cheeks on the spot and register online to become a stem cell donor. Participants will also have the option to take a swabbing kit with them to register at home.
In Canada, there are approximately 1,000 patients at any given time who are waiting for a lifesaving stem cell transplant. The search for a donor may start with family members, however, less than 25 per cent of patients are able to find a match within their family. This means that most patients rely on unrelated volunteer donors from a registry, often with a similar ethnic background to increase their chances of receiving a match.
CBS defines blood stem cells as immature cells that can develop into the cells present in the bloodstream. Stem cells come from circulating blood, bone marrow or umbilical cord blood. Patients who need stem cell transplants suffer from an illness that has caused their bone marrow (stem cell factory) to fail.
According to CBS, blood stem cell transplants can treat over 80 diseases and disorders. Donating blood stem cells allows patients with unhealthy stem cells to receive healthy ones, healing many illnesses that affect their blood and immune system. Individuals who undergo chemotherapy or radiation treatment may also need a stem cell transplant to assist with healing and restarting their immune system.
Blood donation event, March 17 and March 20
On March 17 from 10:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. and March 20 from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m., CBS will be holding a blood donation event from in the Ian Beddis Gymnasium, located on the main level of the Walker Complex.
According to CBS, blood and blood products are a critical part of medical care, including surgeries, procedures, cancer treatments and disease and disorder management. In fact, one blood donation can save three lives. Although one in two Canadians are eligible to give blood, only one in 76 donates.
Any healthy person who meets CBS’ eligibility criteria can donate blood. In order to ensure that prospective participants can donate upon attending their appointment, CBS encourages interested individuals to review the eligibility criteria and take the eligibility quiz before booking an appointment.
Individuals who would like to participate in the on-campus blood donation event will need to book an appointment online.
“Give and Get Away,” Jan. 1 to March 31
From Jan. 1 to March 31, any resident of Canada — excluding residents of Quebec — who is 17 years of age or older that books and attends a blood or plasma appointment and/or joins the stem cell registry is eligible to participate in CBS’ Give and Get Away campaign.
The Give and Get Away campaign allows those who have booked and attended an appointment or joined the stem cell registry to enter a draw for a chance to win round-trip economy class tickets for two, courtesy of the Air Canada Foundation, to any destination scheduled by Air Canada. Eligible participants can scan the QR code provided at the donor centre and complete the Draw Entry form, which serves as an official entry in the draw.
One winner will be randomly selected from all eligible entries. The selected entrant will be contacted by CBS using the information provided on their Draw Entry form by April 15. Once the selected entrant is confirmed as the winner, CBS will provide instructions for claiming the prize directly from the Air Canada Foundation.
For more information about the Give and Get Away campaign, visit the CBS website. The official draw rules can be found here.