March 20: Lachine Borough inviting you to donate blood

There’s something new this year: the blood donor clinic will again be held at the fire station located at 3175 Remembrance Street. Lachine Borough will offer a free daycare service on site as well as provide transportation services.

Mrs. Jane Cowell-Poitras, City Councillor and coordinator for the blood donor clinic is appealing to everyone: “I am personally inviting all men and women of Lachine 18 years old and older to rally around and give blood. Every 80 seconds, someone is in need of blood and each donation can save up to four lives. This simple gesture, which will only take about an hour of your time, will have a significant impact for those in need of successful treatment”, she said.

Eleven year old Anne-Josée Trépanier owes her life to blood donors. “In 2004, my parents and I learned that I had leukemia. I had to receive chemotherapy treatments and needed several blood transfusions. Then in 2006, I was seriously infected with a virus that required more transfusions. All in all, I have received 14 transfusions. Without these donors, I wouldn’t be here today to tell you my story. These donors are my heroes.”

Each year, Héma-Québec supplies Quebec hospitals with almost 400,000 blood products in order to satisfy the needs of recipients. The needs vary and are numerous resulting from accidents, operations, surgeries, and treatments for various diseases. This is why Lachine Borough has been involved for a long time; it firmly and unconditionally believes in this cause.

The chief of Montreal’s Fire Safety Department, Sylvain Arteau also wanted to demonstrate his support and is soliciting the public’s participation. “It’s an important moment for each blood recipient and the Fire Safety Department is proud to be involved in this project. We are inviting everyone to come to this 41st blood donor clinic”, Mr. Arteau added.

For more information on the blood donor clinic or to request for transportation, all donors are requested to call 514 295-7377.