Post-secondary schools are joining an effort to donate blood for a chance to win grand prizes and give back to those in need.
(Canadian Blood Services at Fanshawe College on October 22, 2025, @fanshawesu Instagram)
Canadian Blood Services has launched its Fall Get Together campaign, with an aim to bring colleges and universities together in a friendly competition. This falls under its goal to reach one million active blood and plasma donors in the next five years.
“Encouraging people and students to come in and donate as a group really helps strengthen that sense of connection and community with one another,” said Alexandre Coucopoulos, Communications Specialist with Canadian Blood Services.
Students at Fanshawe College can book donations at a local donor centre to boost the college on a leaderboard. As of Friday, the college is sitting at number four on the national scale.
Over the next five years, the need for blood and plasma is expected to increase, says Coucopoulos, with the demand for blood going up by at least 10 per cent and plasma by at least 50 per cent.
(Canadian Blood Services at Fanshawe College on October 22, 2025, @fanshawesu Instagram)
“Appreciation swags” may be handed out as well during appointments, such as tumblers, toques, and stickers, to say thanks for “your team’s effort,” as stated in the details on the Canadian Blood Services website.
Students can “walk away with a strong sense of fulfillment and purpose knowing that their donation is helping save lives all across Canada,” said Coucopoulos.
In acknowledging medical fears such as needles, Coucopoulos says going as a group helps overcome some of those barriers and eases tension with donating blood.
“We want donors to leave one of our donor centres knowing that not only do [the donors] feel closer” to the people that they came with, says Coucopoulos, but that it is a memory to look back on and know that they’re “making a difference in Canada.”
Winners of the campaign will receive exclusive merchandise and a Friendsgiving Banquet at their school, with the contest ending on December 31.
More information about rules and requirements to register under your school can be found here.
