Blood, burgers, beers: How these Windsor, Ont., autoworkers made 600 blood donations
A bunch of autoworkers in Windsor, Ont., has spent greater than 20 years in a singular custom — donating blood collectively.
On Friday, as they rolled up their sleeves to offer, they hit a milestone: a gaggle whole of 600 donations.
“It is the proper factor to do. Not too many individuals do donate, and there is all the time a plea for it,” mentioned Ted Rocheleau, who first got here up with the thought and has donated blood personally greater than 160 instances.
There are eight members of the group, they usually donate each two months. Every member’s donations tallied up make up the 600 determine.
“We’re wholesome sufficient that we are able to decide to it, and we’re attending to retire in a few years, and I feel we’re simply going to proceed it, even after we retire,” mentioned Rocheleau. “We will be that previous group that will get collectively and, you recognize, have espresso, however this time, we’re going out to offer blood.”
The buddies work collectively at Stellantis’s Windsor Meeting Plant, and the corporate pays for 2 hours of time for workers to donate blood.
At first, they’d do it after their midnight shift and exit for breakfast collectively afterward. However because the plant’s third shift was eradicated, it is develop into a lunch-time factor, with a distinct individual selecting up the tab every time.
Members of the group even put on T-shirts on donation day that spell out their mission: “Blood, burgers, beers.”
“We give blood, have a few burgers and beers, and these days, the worth is much more than breakfast, proper?” mentioned Rocheleau. “Your invoice is like $200-something for six to eight of us, and so we all know that you just’re on the hook, and you are going to come again for the following donation, since you need your free lunch, and your free burger and free beer.”
“It is simply good to offer again and assist out, be ok with it,” group member William Burke mentioned as he was giving blood on Friday. “And I’ve had some members of the family who’ve had circumstances the place they wanted blood, so it feels good to reciprocate.”
LISTEN | Ted Rocheleau joins Windsor Morning to share how autoworkers are making a distinction:
Windsor Morning7:06600th blood donation
Ted Rocheleau speaks with CBC Windsor Morning host Nav Nanwa about his group of blood donors.
Mary Lynn Morgan is a registered nurse who has been working at Canadian Blood Companies for almost 25 years.
“It is nice. We love having these guys — they all the time deliver positivity to the clinic and 600 donations … is fairly incredible,” she mentioned.
Morgan mentioned there’s all the time a “great want” for blood, however donations are likely to gradual throughout the summer season as individuals take holidays.
“If you have not donated shortly otherwise you’ve by no means donated, it truly is a straightforward factor to do, an hour of your time as soon as each couple of months, or as soon as each three months relying in your intercourse,” she mentioned.
