Restaurateur stepping up for next blood drive

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Marck Halabi of Sal’s Famous poses with one of the coupons first-time blood donors will receive for rolling up their sleeves at the Mar. 26 Blood Donor Clinic. – Stephen Dafoe Photo

By Stephen Dafoe

Morinville – It’s not uncommon to roll up your sleeve to give a little blood and get a little cookie after you are done. But a local restaurateur is looking to give first time blood donors something that will stick to their ribs.

Marck Halabi of Sal’s Famous will be fixing up first time blood donors to the Mar. 26 clinic with a free burger and fries.

“It was to make people more interested,” Halabi said of the company’s decision to offer an incentive to first-time donors. “It was to help the community and to add more for the blood donor to help them collect more supplies. You always here about the amount needed.”

First-time donors will be presented a coupon redeemable for a burger and fries at the Morinville restaurant.

The clinic takes place Mar. 26 from 3 p.m. to 8 p.m. at the Morinville Rendez-Vous Centre (9913 – 104 Street). The Morinville Lions Club and Knights of Columbus, organizers of the event, are hoping to increase donor levels at the upcoming event.

Knight of Columbus Frank Volmer said the last clinic was the most successful yet with 120 pints collected from 136 donors. “It was really amazing, to be honest,” Volmer said of the turnout.

Canadian Blood Services (CBS) anticipate the need to collect approximately 147,000 blood donations across Alberta in 2013, blood used daily to treat cancer patients, transplant recipients, trauma patients, newborn babies and other medical needs.

CBS says healthy people over the age of 17 can donate blood every 56 days. First-time donors after the age of 61, or regular donors who want to continue donating after their 71st birthday are asked to consult with their doctor for medical permission to donate.

Those wishing to donate at the upcoming clinic must feel well and are required to have their donor card or photo and signature I.D. at the time of donation. For more information about donor eligibility, visit blood.ca/eligibility or call 1-888-236-6283. CBS recommends making an appointment to help reduce waiting times.

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