Peter Smith is getting ready to roll up his sleeve to donate blood – for the 100th time. The weed science technician in Plant Agriculture began donating blood as a teenager and hasn’t stopped. He’ll be joined by other Plant Agriculture colleagues as well as students, staff and faculty at U of G’s blood donor clinic on Jan. 19 in the University Centre.
Why does he donate? “There’s good karma in doing things for people you don’t even know,” says Smith.
According to Canadian Blood Services, someone in Canada needs blood almost every minute of every day. Blood donations are used to treat car accident victims, surgical patients and people undergoing cancer therapy.
Donors must be at least 17 years old and younger than 71, be in good health and feeling well when they donate.
Appointments are preferred. Contact Canadian Blood Services at 1-888-2-DONATE (1-888-236-6283) or book an appointment online at www.bloodservices.ca.
Smith encourages anyone eligible to give blood to join him at the campus clinic or visit the Guelph Blood Donor Clinic at 130 Silvercreek Parkway North. “I’m not planning to stop donating any time soon,” he says.