Growing up I was always aware that my father had been ill in his youth. As I got older I learned this was a form of cancer. I also remember my mum would regularly give blood at the local community centre. As I became eligible I gave blood - as someone whose father benefited I also wanted to do my bit. When I got married my wife and I would have our regular nights out at the community centre in Wigan, UK, where we would both give blood. When we moved to Canada this all stopped. The change in eligibility this last year has meant we can now start giving blood again, indeed within a week or so of finding out about the change we had both given blood. We hope that doing so can help improve the amount of blood available for those who desperately need it.
