Hockey Gives Blood coming to STFX

X-Women Hockey student-athlete Anna MacCara leading initiative.

By Corey LeBlanc                                 

Antigonish, NS — It is an often used cliché that STFX student-athletes and fans bleed white and blue.

But, with a recently launched initiative at the university, they are reminded about the red, and everything that it does to help save the lives of millions of Canadians.

Anna MacCara – a forward with the X-Women varsity hockey team – is leading the effort to establish Hockey Gives Blood on the Antigonish campus.

"I have a good friend that was pretty active as an ambassador," the Bachelor of Business Administration (BBA) student says of the program.

She adds, "I thought it was really awesome, and then I decided that I wanted to get involved."

Hockey Gives Blood – a national partnership with Canadian Blood Services (CBS) – raises awareness of the importance of not only blood, but also plasma, stem cell, organ and tissues donations; not to mention financial contributions from the hockey community.

A group of former players established the non-profit organization.

"I couldn't believe how easy it was," MacCara says of her first time donating blood, which didn't happen too long ago.

Noting that there is "so much need," she asks, "Why wouldn't you [donate]?"

Although understandably identified with hockey – considering its name and origin – MacCara explains that her goal is to get student-athletes from every STFX varsity team involved with the initiative.

"Everyone can work together to do this," she says, when asked if there will be an opportunity for the broader STFX and Antigonish communities to become part of the Hockey Gives Blood effort.

MacCara explains that a variety of awareness and fundraising ideas are in the works, including an upcoming Hockey Gives Blood game on Saturday, November 5 when the X-Women take on the Mount Allison Mounties at 7pm in Antigonish.

"We are slowly getting the message out there," she says.

To help boost the start of Hockey Gives Blood at STFX, the Yellowknife, NWT native says she and others – including student-athletes – are encouraging as many people as possible to donate during an upcoming local drive, which is scheduled for the end of November at St. Ninian Place in Antigonish. 

"I am encouraging every student-athlete at STFX to give," she adds.

For tickets to the Hockey Gives Blood game on Saturday, November 5, click here.

Visit blood.ca for more on CBS, including ways to offer support – other than giving blood, and the Hockey Gives Blood initiative across the country.  

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