450 Challenge issued by Canadian Blood Services in bid to double new donors [Video]

Canadian Blood Services is challenging Calgarians to step up their blood donation game.

In a media release, the national organization said that on average, it receives about 230 new donors a day – or about half of what it says it needs to meet the growing demand for blood and plasma.

As a consequence, it has issued the 450 Challenge, which asks Calgarian and Canadians across the country to help boost the number of new donors per day up to 450 – every day — this winter.

“It’s not just about today, it’s about the future,” said Lisa Castro, Canadian Blood Services Community Development Coordinator.

Anniversary of historic change

Wednesday morning, a special event was held at the Calgary Donor Centre to highlight the first anniversary of a the historic change to the human variant of ‘mad cow disease’ eligibility rule.

The was a change implemented in 2023 that allowed people who lived or …