The Tribune

By ALESHA CADET

Tribune Features Reporter

acadet@tribunemedia.net

THERE is a pressing need for blood donations in the Bahamas, and just one pint may save more than one life.

With this in mind, the Rotaract Club of South East Nassau Centennial (RSENC) is encouraging Bahamians to "Be a Hero - Be a Donor" as it gears up for the 'Gift of Life Blood Drive' to be held next month.

The event, scheduled to take place at NUA Insurance Agents and Brokers in the Harbour Bay Plaza on December 2, beginning at 11am, will be held in conjunction with the Rotaract Club of Stabroek Guyana, Rotaract Club of Antigua, the Princess Margaret Hospital Blood Bank, Doctors Hospital Blood Bank, Friends of the Blood Bank, One Blood, Unity Blood Drive, and the Bahamas Red Cross.

With a target pint goal of 100, the blood drive is also set to focus on raising awareness in the areas of donating blood and training as it relates to blood safety rules.

Highlights throughout the course of the day will include informative distributions, raffles and a live remote courtesy of KISS 96 and Y98.

"We are fortunate to have the support of our Rotary sponsor clubs, as well as our Interact Clubs, which are high schools we mentor. The blood drive is a public awareness issue that focuses on shortages that our medical institutions face on a daily basis with regard to blood for its patients. Our goal is to possibly reach the persons who may not currently, or have ever, donated blood because it hasn't affected them directly," said Deshawn McGregor, RSENC community service director.

He said the Bahamas Red Cross describes the cause best in the following statement: "The blood you donate gives someone another chance at life. One day that someone may be a close relative, a friend, a loved one - or even you."

When approached by the RSENC's sister club, the Rotaract Club of Stabroek, to partner in hosting the event, Mr McGregor said they immediately agreed. Additionally, while in preliminary conversations with blood bank partners, Mr McGregor said he realised just how dire the need truly is.

"Our club has a very close bond with our twin club, with our immediate past-president and myself having visited with them in Guyana just this year. A number of members of the Rotaract Club of Stabroek, as well as a number of members of the Rotaract Club of South East Nassau Centennial, have had family members and friends that have been in dire need of blood, and have received reports from the hospital on shortages in their blood banks," said Ms McGregor.

He believes the upcoming blood drive will have a greater and more significant impact on Bahamians than they may realise, as one pint of blood can save three lives.

"Every person that gains a better understanding of the importance of donating blood we hope will relay this information to others, and hopefully we can together rectify the shortages that our blood banks experience. It is our sincere hope that our club can exceed our initial goal of raising 100 pints of blood for our blood bank partners. If we can encourage one person who has never donated to donate, then we would consider that a success," said Mr McGregor.

The Rotaract Club of South East Nassau Centennial is known in the country as a service club for young men and women ages 18 to 30 who are dedicated to community and international service. Rotaract's worldwide membership totals over 184,000 in more than 8,000 clubs. Rotaract clubs are self-governing and self-supporting and can be either university- or community-based.