Organized labour and the mining community in Sudbury is showing support for Canadian Blood Services (CBS) with an initiative called Mining Gives Back.
Sudbury is one of three venues in Canada where people are able to make vital blood plasma donations. Local mining companies, affiliates, mining suppliers and contractors have kicked off the spring season with a friendly challenge of filling 500 donation appointments during April and May, said CBS communications specialist Agnese Caruso.
She said it is inspiring other Sudbury residents to join the challenge.
United Steelworkers Local 6500 President Nick Larochelle kicked off the Mining Gives Back campaign early. He donated plasma at the Sudbury plasma donor centre at 900 Lasalle Boulevard on March 24.
"We are committed to making the second annual Mining Gives Back campaign a success,” Larochelle said.
“Every donation has a huge impact on someone in Canada,” he added.
Mike Parent, vice-president of prevention services with Workplace Safety North, also supported the campaign with his plasma donation on April 4.
"A plasma donor saves lives and benefits from donating as well," Parent said.
The many donors from the Sudbury mining industry have demonstrated that patients can count on their support, knowing that the need for plasma never stops, Caruso said.
On behalf of patients in the North and across Canada, Canadian Blood Services is grateful for their generosity, Caruso added.
She invited friends and supporters of CBS to check out the link to online stories of kindness and generosity at https://www.blood.ca/en/stories.
