Advertisement

Black history month blood drive sheds light on need for more donors

WATCH ABOVE: Héma-Québec organized their fifth annual Black History Month blood drive in the hopes of getting more people to sign up.

MONTREAL – Héma-Québec is appealing to the black community throughout February.

The group organized their fifth annual Black History Month blood drive in the hopes of getting more people to sign up as blood donors.

Since the campaign began in 2009, almost 2,300 donors have signed up with about 100 donations during the event each February.

That’s just one per cent of active donors in Quebec.

Appropriately perhaps, organizers have used a Nelson Mandela quote in the hopes of inspiring more donors.

Story continues below advertisement

Héma-Québec and the Black History Month round table say they want to bring attention to the fact that many diseases require blood transfusions – and some, such as various forms of leukemia, require a genetic compatibility.

“To give blood is to give life,” said Michael Farkas, president of the Black History Month round table.”

“We can save lives and I strongly believe it’s an action the Round Table should pursue.”

Often times for ethnic people, the bank isn’t big enough to supply the community properly.

WATCH: February is Black History Month

Sponsored content

AdChoices