A B.C. cancer survivor spent part of his Christmas Eve donating blood and hopefully inspiring others to do the same.
Alvin Chin, his mother and sister donated blood to the Canadian Blood Service on Oak Street in Vancouver and want to raise awareness of the importance of blood donations across Canada.
Additionally, Chin wants to encourage others to participate in the Canadian Blood Services 450 Challenge and recruit 450 new blood donors across the country.
Chin was diagnosed with nasopharyngeal cancer in November 2022.
He began three months of radiation and chemotherapy in January 2023 and was diagnosed cancer-free that fall.
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“It really costs you,” Chin told Global News.
“Mentally, physically. This has been the hardest time of my life, but you come out of it for the better and I hope you know to stay away.
“You live a fuller life and you see things differently, with a different perspective. That’s why I’m here to give back.
According to Canadian Blood Services, there are an average of 230 new donors per day across the country. However, to meet the growing need for blood and plasma, the number of donors will need to be doubled.
“It’s achievable,” Anika Mcdonald, community development manager at Canadian Blood Services, told Global News.
“We can definitely achieve this goal. We just need people to create awareness. Talk about it. Especially in winter when people are busy visiting family and friends. When you come to donate, bring a friend or another family member with you. It’s wonderful.
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