St. Joseph's completes Ontario blood drive with a top-two finish

Staff, physicians, volunteers, family and friends rallied in support of this year’s Canadian Blood Services (CBS) hospital donor challenge – earning St. Joseph’s an impressive second place finish among 10 participating Ontario hospitals.

A masked man in a blue dress shirt and dress pants reclines on a hospital bed with his arm outstretched donating blood
Professional practice educator Tom Kolaczyk makes a blood donation. He is one of many St. Joseph’s staff and physicians who rallied in support of this year’s Canadian Blood Services hospital donor challenge – earning St. Joseph’s an impressive second place finish among participating Ontario hospitals.


With 70 donations from Aug.1 to Oct. 11, St. Joseph’s was a top-two finisher for the third year in a row.

Every year, St. Joseph’s Health Care London supports Canadian Blood Services as a participant in the Partners for Life program – a nationwide program that engages corporate companies and community organizations in donating blood. As a participant, St. Joseph’s sets an annual blood donation target and rallies staff, physicians and volunteers to make a lasting commitment to blood donation. 

According to CBS, an estimated 50 per cent of Canadians will either need blood or know someone who will at some point in their lives, yet less than four per cent of eligible donors sustain the blood system for all Canadians.

A masked man with glasses in a suit vest and pants with a white dress shirt reclines on a hospital bed with his arm outstretched as he gives blood
St. Joseph’s President and CEO Roy Butler rolls up his sleeve to donate blood as part of this year’s Ontario Hospital Blood Donor Challenge. Every year, St. Joseph’s Health Care London supports Canadian Blood Services as a participant in the Partners for Life program – a nationwide program that engages corporate companies and community organizations in donating blood.

“I am incredibly proud of all St. Joseph’s staff, physicians, volunteers, family and friends who rolled up their sleeves to make a difference in our community,” says St. Joseph’s President and CEO Roy Butler. “Our partnership with Canadian Blood is yet another way of living our mission to minimize the effects of injury, disease and disability.”

This year’s challenge saw many St. Joseph’s teams and individuals give blood, including staff from St. Joseph’s Professional Practice team.

“It’s rewarding to know that I can be a blessing to other people in need,” says professional practice consultant Lara Howe. “One month after I donated blood, a dear family friend was in a car accident and needed a blood transfusion. The need the blood really is constant – and the best way to ensure blood is available for those who need it is to donate.” 

A masked woman in glasses, dress pants and a blouse reclines on a hospital bed with one arm outstretched as she gives blood and the other giving a thumbs up
“Donating blood is an easy and quick way to make a big difference in someone’s life,” says professional practice consultant Lara Howe, who helped rally her team to donate blood at the Canadian Blood Services headquarters in London, Ontario.

While the challenge is now over, all are encouraged to keep on giving, including friends of St.Joseph’s. Register online with Canadian Blood Services using the St. Joseph’s Partner ID# STJO012736 and keep the gift of life going. St. Joseph’s has set a target of 275 donations before the end of 2021. 

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