Dozens of people took some time out of their weekend to donate blood as part of the Sikh Nation blood drive.
Members of the Sikh community in the central Okanagan organized the drive, which is one of more than a dozen clinics that took place across the country on Saturday.
In Kelowna, volunteers were set up at the Canadian Blood Services clinic on Dilworth Dr.
According to Gayle Voyer with Canadian Blood Services in Kelowna, about 50 people donated blood at the clinic, which is usually how much the Sikh Nation blood drive sees at their annual drive.
“When groups like Sikh Nation come in… it really means sometimes the difference between collecting and not collecting. It’s very important,” Voyer said.
Voyer said the initiative started in November of 1999 in the Lower Mainland.
READ MORE: B.C.’s Sikh community hosts blood drive with a message of peace
Last year participants in the nation-wide effort donated close to 2,100 units of blood and welcomed 350 new donors.
“It’s about bringing communities together,” organizer of the Kelowna clinic Bunvir Nijjer said.
“It’s in remembrance of a tragic event that happened in 1984 — the genocide against Sikhs in India. In that memory, everyone wanted to do something positive and show there’s still unity, we are still together and we won’t forget what happened.”
Nijjer said she hopes the effort will encourage people to donate blood year-round. Those interested in having their contribution tallied under the Sikh Nation campaign can donate under this identification number: SIKH002719.
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