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Canada's blood agencies, World Champion Emilie Heymans and Diving Canada team up to promote blood donation
The need for blood hits close to home for country's diving community
OTTAWA, April 5 /CNW Telbec/ - Canadian Blood Services has joined forces with world champion diver and Olympic medalist Emilie Heymans and Diving Canada to encourage the country's diving community as well as amateur athletes and all Canadians to donate blood, platelets and bone marrow.
For Canada's diving community, the need for blood and blood products hits close to home. Last October, Tori Kennedy, a Calgary-based national junior diving team member and Olympic hopeful was diagnosed with aplastic anemia, while representing Canada at an international diving competition.
As Tori continues in her battle with aplastic anemia, Canadian Blood Services and Diving Canada, with the help of Emilie Heymans, are launching an "In Honour" campaign to encourage blood donation throughout the month of April. In Québec, Héma-Québec plans to promote a number of blood donor clinics aimed at Québec's strong diving and amateur athlete community.
"Tori is relying on the generosity of blood donors from across the country" says Emilie Heymans. "I encourage the greater diving community in Canada and athletes across the country to donate during the month of April." The "In Honour" program is designed to encourage the family and friends of individuals who have received blood or blood products to become regular donors. Donors can fill out an "In Honour" card to let someone know that there has been a donation in their honour.
"What better way could there be to honour someone who has made a difference in your life than giving something back?" says Dr. Graham Sher, Chief Executive Officer for Canadian Blood Services. "Join these athletes as they support the 'In Honour' program by donating blood and blood products over the coming weeks."
Diving Canada is hopeful that its tight-knit community will 'dive in' and support their "In Honour" program for Tori Kennedy. In Honour cards dedicated to Tori will be combined with the well wishes of donors in Quebec and sent to Tori and her family at the end of the month long initiative.
"Diving Canada is dedicated to lending it's support to this important cause and encouraging our members to donate, says Jacob Gamache, Events and Marketing Coordinator for the association. "Tori is a special athlete and a true competitor, and we hope that diving community at large will put its support behind her in her fight to beat this disease, and allow her to follow her dream to represent Canada at the Olympic Games"
For more information or to make an appointment to donate please call 1 888 2 DONATE (1 888 236-6283).
About Canadian Blood Services
Canadian Blood Services is a national, not-for-profit charitable organization that manages the blood supply in all provinces and territories outside of Quebec and oversees the country's Unrelated Bone Marrow Donor Registry. Canadian Blood Services operates 42 permanent collection sites and more than 15,000 donor clinics annually. The Provincial and Territorial Ministers of Health provide operational funding to Canadian Blood Services. The federal government, through Health Canada, is responsible for regulating the blood system. For more information, please visit our Web site at www.bloodservices.ca .
About Diving Plongeon Canada
Diving Plongeon Canada (DPC) is the country's national governing body of springboard and platform diving. With a membership that includes some of the world's best divers, coaches and officials, DPC advocates the interests of the sport and shares a goal to produce national and international champions. For more information, please visit their Web site at www.diving.ca .
About Emilie Heymans
Over the past five years, World Champion and Olympic medalist Emilie Heymans has become not only one of the world's top divers but one of Canada's best-known athletes. In 2000, she won a silver medal at the 10M synchronized event accompanied by Anne Montminy. In 2003, Emilie won the World Championship in Barcelona and three gold medals at the Pan Am Games. In 2004, she captured the bronze medal at the Olympic Games in Athens in the 10M synchronized event accompanied by Blythe Hartley. She recently picked up her 20th national title with a win in the women's 10-metre tower event at the winter nationals diving competition in Quebec City.
For further information: Derek Mellon, Media Relations Manager, Canadian Blood Services, (613) 739-2177, derek.mellon@bloodservices.ca; Jacob Gamache, Events and Marketing Coordinator, Diving/Plongeon Canada, (613) 736-5238, ext. 2101, jacob@diving.ca
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