Sirens for Life Blood Drive kicks off in Lethbridge

WATCH: Local law enforcement and emergency works are challenging one another and the community to roll up their sleeves and donate blood. As Quinn Campbell reports the friendly competition makes a huge difference for Canadian Blood Services.

LETHBRIDGE- Amiee Boxer and her daughter, Ashton, are lucky to be alive after a motorcycle crash that nearly claimed the pregnant mother’s life.

“Me and my husband were coming back at dusk on his brand new Harley Davidson,” said Boxer. “We were driving and we ended up hitting a deer on the highway.”

Emergency crews jumped into action and Boxer was airlifted by STARS Air Ambulance to Calgary where she had a long road to recovery.

“I was in an induced coma, I had ten broken bones and a brain injury. I also needed 50 pints of blood.”

That blood helped save the lives of Boxer and her daughter.

“At some point in your life you’re going to need it, or someone you know is going to need it.”

Boxer and her husband are both regular blood donors, taking part in this year’s Sirens for Life Blood Drive.

Belinda Tomiyama with Canadian Blood Services says the campaign is a huge boost every year.

“It’s a lot of the emergency services personal, RCMP, regional police services, fire services, sheriffs, coming forward and donating blood on behalf of citizens in Canada.”

First responders see the need for blood on a regular basis. With a little friendly competition, they are challenging one another and the community to give the gift that keeps on giving.

Tomiyama adds the Lethbridge donor clinic needs over 1,300 donations over the next two months just to keep up with demand.

“We lose about 40 per cent of our donors every year in blood services across Canada because of eligibility requirements,” she said. “Long weekends usually are busy because of more people on roadways and waterways.”

From now until August, residents can book an appointment and put their support behind whichever first responder they’d like to support.