City of Maple Ridge Mayor Dan Ruimy found himself eating chips and pretzels Friday morning.
Not because he wanted the extra carbs, but a salty snack before giving blood helps a blood donor recover better after giving.
A fact that Ruimy only learned as he was preparing to give blood for a Mayor Lifeline Challenge for the Let Your Light Shine Brighter campaign by Canadian Blood Services, to spotlight the importance of recruiting new regular blood donors and to encourage those who have donated before to start donating again.
The mayor released a video about the importance of giving blood, especially now.
“One of the impacts of the pandemic is there has been a drop in regular blood donations, at a time when the need is the greatest,” he said in a video posted to YouTube.
Ruimy noted he used to give regularly before the COVID-19 pandemic, about once a year, and he is looking forward to being a regular donor again.
As he entered the gym at Maple Ridge Alliance Church on Dewdney Trunk Road, where the donation clinic was being held, he noted that the mayor’s challenge was about advocacy.
“The need is great. Ever since COVID happened, there has been a decline in donations,” he said. It’s just about local mayors talking to the people they represent and hoping to inspire others to give blood, added Ruimy.
However, as Mayor Ruimy went through the process on June 9, he was told he was unable to donate this time around because of a minor heart attack he had in October.
Councillor Ahmed Yousef was also at the clinic shining a light on blood donation.
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Yousef has given blood for the 51st time and has given blood in every country he has lived in, including Egypt, United Arab Emirates, the U.S., Kuwait, and Canada, said the councillor proudly.
“It’s the one thing we can all share and it definitely helps and saves lives,” he said, adding that he is happy to do his part.
Arleen Asi, community development manager with Canadian Blood Services, said they are in need of new donors.
“Every year we need 100,000 new donors and especially during the pandemic we have lost quite a number of donors,” she said.
Asi recommended before making an appointment to give blood, potential donors should make sure they are eligible all information that can be found at blood.ca.
She thanks Ruimy for his support.
In October Mayor Ruimy will once again be able to donate his blood – and he plans to do just that.
National Blood Donor Week runs from June 12 to 17, 2023. World Blood Donor Day is June 14.
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