Wrap it up red

Photo: Contributed

Lynnea eating a cupcake at the wrapping party.

Little Lynnea is thankful for everyone who went out of their way to donate blood over the past year.

The 3-year-old was recently diagnosed with Leukaemia and needed blood transfusions as part of her treatment.

On Monday, Lynnea and her mother Alanea Holstrom, wrapped the Kelowna Canadian Blood Services clinic in red for the holidays to show their support and appreciation to donors, as well as encourage others to become blood donors as well.

Gale Voyer, with Canadian Blood Services, says she met Alanea when she came to donate blood for the first time after her daughter fell ill.

“She had always thought of giving blood; it was always on her radar, she always meant to do it but never got around to it,” explains Voyer. “But when her daughter needed blood, she saw the spark it gave her daughter and how quickly her daughter bounced back so it inspired her to come and donate.”

Voyer says Alanea wanted to share her story and thought the perfect opportunity would be through the blood services Christmas campaign ‘Wrap it up Red’.

“(The campaign) is an opportunity for people to give back in a different way than they normally would this time of year, by coming in and donating blood.”

Alanea is very grateful to those who have helped her daughter by giving blood, and she wants to give others the same gift in return.

“She hopes by sharing her story she might give others who have always been meaning to donate, the push to actually start donating,” says Voyer.

Lynnea’s story of recover is also encouraging others in her family to donate, says Voyer, as relatives are coming in to donate together whenever possible.

If you would like to give back you can book an appointment online at blood.ca or call 1-888-to-donate.

This year there is also the opportunity for donors, as well as receivers, to share their story through Twitter using the hashtag #wrapitupred, and Voyer encourages sharing a picture as well.