Canadian Blood Services needs 115 donors at its Newmarket blood donation event on this weekend's civic holiday, Monday, Aug. 5.
The event is at the Holiday Inn Express Suites, 100 Pony Dr., from 1:30 to 7: 30 p.m.
Another blood donation event will held in August, on Aug. 23, from 4 to 7 p.m. at the Holiday Inn, requiring 58 donors.
More than 420 units of blood — eight units over target — were collected during local events in June and July, according to Malvika Arun, territory manager for donor relations, "which is phenomenal considering summer months can be pretty challenging for blood collections."
"The 426 units definitely helped with maintaining a healthy whole blood inventory for local patients in need," she added.
Blood collection events will also be held Sept. 10 at Newmarket Community Centre from 1:30 to 7:30 p.m. and Sept. 14 from 9 a.m. to noon at the York Region Administrative Centre, during September's Childhood Cancer Awareness Month.
Many cancer patients require blood. It can take up to eight blood donors a week to help someone with leukemia and up to five donors to help someone undergoing cancer treatment, Arun said.
Book now to donate at blood.ca. Walk-ins are always welcome.
