#redbagchallenge blood drive

Photo: Contributed

Glenn Gallie with his daughters. Gallie said they're too young to donate, but are learning about the importance of donating blood.

Inspired by a young boy with cancer and the ALS ice bucket challenge, a Vernon couple are trying to create a social media furor around donating blood.

Glenn and Lisa Gallie are encouraging everyone they know to donate blood on camera and to nominate their own friends and family to do the same. 

"When I was there giving blood, the lady told me they have a three day threshold," Glenn Gallie said. "She said 'this blood I'm taking from you today will be in someone else in three days."

Gallie said after they heard that, his wife Lisa got her phone out and took a video of Glenn's donation. 

They posted their video to YouTube with the hashtag #redbagchallenge and Glenn nominated three of his friends, whom he says now have appointments to donate. 

"We did the ice bucket challenge, and it's great they're raising money," he said. "Not everyone has money, but everybody has blood and it's really simple to give." 

They are trying to jumpstart a viral social media campaign in hopes of boosting the stock of blood in BC and Canada. 

"You can just drop in, you dont have to have an appointment. Not a lot of people realize that you don't necessarily have to have an appointment to give blood." 

"The need for blood never goes away, and it doesn't get the press it deserves" Gallie said. "It's a 30 to 45 minute investment and you're in and you're out and they give you cookies and juice, how good is that?" 

They have been inspired by a young boy in Vernon named Eli who is battling cancer. Eli is using a lot of blood in his struggle and his grandmother is continually thanking donors on Facebook. 

"You have no options if there is no blood available," Gallie said. 

The couple's campaign is aligned with a blood drive in Vernon at the Trinity Church, being held from Oct. 22 to the 24.

"The least we could do is try to get that clinic filled up and sold out."

Lisa and Glenn stress that the nomination part is crucial to making the #redbagchallenge hashtag go viral. 

"We will [keep it up] this is just the BEGINNING!" Lisa said.