This week, the Lethbridge and District Association of REALTORS® (LDAR) presented it's members the challenge of donating blood at our local Canadian Blood Services clinic. Although the turnout was not as impressive as it could have been, I am proud to say that over a third of the donations came from the REALTORS® at the brokerage I work under, Coldwell Banker First Lethbridge Realty.

I have always felt strongly about the importance of donating if you meet the requirements for blood donation. When I was 14, my Aunt Rita suffered from kidney failure and was kept alive through daily renal dialysis. I still remember visiting her and she was chained to that damn dialysis machine for a good part of her day. 

My mom offered her a kidney (the way someone else would offer to lend you a cup of sugar) and I remember that there was never a question in her mind about doing it. If she had something that she didn't need that could change someone's life for the better, she would give it without a second thought.

They prepared for a future transplant, but my Aunt didn't stay in remission from her previous fight with cancer, thus making a transplant not possible. She eventually succumbed to the cancer, but not without a fight (I might also mention, that as a child, my aunt was stricken with a crippling bout of polio... some people really seem to get more than their share...)

So back to blood donation. As a REALTOR®, and the unpredictable schedule that goes with the territory, it is hard to commit to regular, ongoing volunteer work. Blood donation is a great answer to this dilemma. Clinic hours in Lethbridge are very flexible and most times you can walk in without an appointment. You can donate every 56 days and each donation has the potential to save up to 3 lives.

I have been a regular donor 6 years and today was my 12th donation (you can't donate when pregnant and until 6 months after, otherwise I'd have a few more under my belt!) Blood donation has taken on even more importance to me since my daughter was diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes last May. If there is ever a day that she could be freed of the restrictions of diabetes through a pancreatic or Islet cell transplant, I hope there is enough blood there for her.

Sadly, 1 in 2 Canadians is eligible to donate and only 1 in 60 does. If the real estate industry alone joined the cause to make sure that blood is there when needed, think of the difference we could make!

I recruited a few new donors to go with me this time (pictured below). We made a day of it by going for breakfast beforehand and it turned out to be a really great morning. And we got to walk away with the feeling that we gave something that we didn't need and it could possibly save a life.

Marie & Bill Oliver, REALTORS® with Coldwell Banker First Lethbridge Realty with two of the great staff at the Lethbridge Canadian Blood Services Clinic