Marianne Whittaker

Marianne Whittaker first gave blood 25 years ago through her high school.

“It was a community activity and I really felt that it mattered,” she says. “If it impacted me like that, I believe it will impact other students, as well.”

Marianne now works at the same school, where she started a donor-recruitment initiative about 10 years ago. Students have assumed leadership of the initiative in the years since, facilitating the collection of more than 500 units of whole blood. Marianne’s husband and son both donate regularly and her son has twice accompanied friends on their first donations.

“Every 60 seconds, someone in Canada needs blood,” she says. “Supporting Canadian Blood Services applies to people who can and cannot donate. Volunteers can do their part in teaching and informing more people about how important it is to donate. It teaches us leadership and perseverance, and teaches us to stand up for what we believe in.”