On Apr. 25, from 4:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m., the last blood donor clinic scheduled to be held in Virden took place at the Tundra Oil and Gas Place.
The clinic was a successful event with many donors; local volunteers prepared refreshments for the donors.
Volunteers, some serving for as many as ten years in Virden, received thank you gifts from the Canadian Blood Services. The organization brought with them a beautiful cake, to thank Virden volunteers and donors for their support over the years.
Ken Wardle, of Virden, has been donating blood since 1956. On June 7 of this year in Brandon, he will donate blood for his 184th time. Men can donate blood every two months, and Wardle says, “That’s what I’ve been doing for over 30 years, regular as clockwork.”
Wardle has also donated platelets, which can be done in Winnipeg. Donating platelets takes about two and a-half hours. The platelets then must be matched up with a recipient within five days. Donating platelets can be done every 14 days.
Wardle wrote Canadian Blood Services last week expressing his frustration with the blood clinic no longer being offered in Virden. Wardle talked of how saving money can never be more important than giving blood; after all, blood gives life. The convenience of having clinics in Virden has likely allowed for more people to be able to donate blood. However, with this convenience gone, blood donors can still donate blood in Brandon.
