WOLFPACK WOMENS SOCCER GIVE BLOOD FOR SECOND STRAIGHT YEAR
(pic left: Kerry Hill, Blair MacKay, Shantelle Cooper and Shannon Kelly wait to give blood
pic right: Nurse puts needle in Cooper's arm)
For immediate release: January 16, 2008
Kamloops, BC—Spending a cold, wintery Friday afternoon inside a church gym isn’t the first thing on a lot of athletes minds. But it was for six members of the Thompson Rivers University WolfPack Women’s Soccer Team.
You see, the gym was the site of a clinic. But it wasn’t sports related.
The WolfPack, under the guidance of 5 th year Co-Captain Shantelle Cooper (midfield, Nanaimo, BC) were giving blood at a Canadian Blood Services Clinic, one of two that is held in Kamloops each month.
“This is the fourth time I’ve given blood,” says Cooper. “And the second time we’ve done it as a team. It’s important to give back to the community. It gets easier to give blood every time you do it”
Cooper originally had commitments from ten of her team mates, but some had to bow out after getting sick.
“It’s good to give back,” stated 2nd year defender Blair MacKay (Kamloops, BC). “We are pretty privileged as athletes; it’s nice to do something for someone else.”
“I’m a little nervous,” explained 2nd year forward Kerry Hill (Kamloops, BC). “ I’ve never given blood before. But my dad has done it in the past and I know it’ll feel good.”
“I was all for this,” said 5 th year keeper Shannon Kelly (Kamloops, BC). “ It’s good for us as a team but good for everyone to give blood.” Kelly is expecting to see a lot of blood soon as she hopes to enter medical school in Ireland in the fall.
It took the WolfPack about an hour to go through the process, which includes filling out forms, having a one on one interview with a nurse before having the needle put in your arm to donate.
“Last time we were here, it was packed,” said Chianne Smith. “ People were giving blood to help a little boy in the community. Its a good cause, more people should do it.”
On this day, there was a steady stream of donors. The fact the WolfPack were coming in as a team wasn’t lost on them.
“It’s a wonderful thing what those young girls are doing,” said one. “ TRU and the community should be proud.”
“They are in the age demographic we need,” stated a volunteer. “ These girls are showing that they are good role models. More young people should give blood.”
The WolfPack participated in the blood donor clinic as one of their regular team functions the past two years. “Now that I’m graduating,” stated Cooper. “I hope to pass this onto the younger girls. And we are going to establish ourselves through the ‘Donor For Life’ program. I’m hoping we can use it as a bond between WolfPack Alumni and current members of the Women’s soccer team. And we’ll try and challenge other BC CAA Schools and teams to follow our example”.
CORNER KICKS: Canadian Blood Services plans to extend its monthly stay in Kamloops to three days a month starting in the Spring. To donate blood, you have to be between the ages of 17 and 71 and at least 50 kg. You can donate blood every 56 days. You can get more information on donating and the ‘Donor for Life” program by calling 1 888 2 DONATE (1-888-236-6283) or going on line at www.bloodservices.ca