The Saskatchewan Roughriders and Canadian Blood Services are using Rider Pride to help save lives this CFL season. For the second consecutive year, the partners are teaming-up for Bleed Green, a six-month Saskatchewan-wide campaign that calls on Rider faithful to prove their loyalty by donating blood.
The summer months can pose a challenge for blood collection in Saskatchewan as families head-off for holidays and routines change. Bleed Green, which spans the entire regular football season, provides an opportunity to fill the donation gap by recruiting Rider fans to donate blood.
"We are excited to continue growing the Bleed Green campaign through our partnership with Canadian Blood Services," stated Roughrider President/CEO Jim Hopson. "The creation of the program last year brought forth overwhelming support from across the province. Rider fans stepped up to help save lives while showing they truly do bleed green."
"Bleed Green is an opportunity for Rider fans to go beyond being game-changers to being life-savers," said Jamie Lewis, Community Development Coordinator for Canadian Blood Services. "From trauma victims and individuals undergoing surgery, to cancer patients and newborn babies, Rider fans' donations will provide a lifeline to many."
There's added incentive for Rider fans to roll up their sleeves. Fans who visit any blood donor clinic in Saskatchewan during the course of the Rider season can enter to win a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to help carry a giant Canadian flag onto Taylor field at the start of a Rider home game this season - just like Weyburn's Jason Antonio did last season. Fans that bring their game-day ticket stub to a blood donor clinic in Saskatchewan will also be entered to win an ultimate "Rider Experience" prize package.
The campaign will receive a boost this year, as SaskEnergy, in partnership with the SaskEnergy Network, has signed-on as a presenting sponsor of Bleed Green.
"At SaskEnergy we have been committed to giving the gift of life for years by hosting regular blood clinics. Many employees and their families have benefited from life saving transfusions so they are proud to champion this very important cause," said Ron Podbielski, Executive Director of Corporate Affairs for SaskEnergy.
Rider fans across Saskatchewan can begin donating blood as part of the Bleed Green campaign immediately and through to the end of the Riders' regular season. For more information or to book your life-saving appointment, call 1-888-2-DONATE (1-888-236-6283).
A blood donor clinic will be held in Weyburn at Assiniboia Park Elementary School on June 21 from 2:30 to 7:30 p.m.
