Campaign focuses on raising awareness to end genocide around globe
November 1, 2012: The Sikh Blood Donation Campaign is set for this Friday and Saturday in Surrey and everyone is encouraged to help make a difference.
The campaign - started in 1999 and now in its 13th year - is about more than just donating blood. It is held at this time of year in memory of the November 1984 genocide of Sikhs in India.
"From Canadian society we learned we should create a positive campaign," said Sunil Haripur, one of many volunteers to help to run the annual event locally.
"The uniqueness of this campaign is that Canada is known around the world for its human rights stand," he said. "This campaign is a human rights campaign.
Blood donation is a tool we use to raise awareness of human rights."
Before the annual blood drive began, Sikhs did not have a tradition of donating blood. Now Sikhs are the largest group of blood donors in Canada - with about seven per cent of local eligible donors doing so, compared to four per cent of the general population.
But this isn't just about the tragic events from India in 1984.
"Genocide should be challenged," said Haripur, "not just by talking," but by taking positive action. "Each life is precious."
He added their focus is on ending genocide everywhere - India, Rwanda, Darfur or anywhere else around the globe where persecution happens and human rights are not upheld.
The Surrey blood drive runs Friday, Nov. 2 and Saturday, Nov. 3 from 9: 30 a.m. to 5: 30 p.m. both days at Unit C2, 15285 101st Ave. Donors should identify themselves as being part of the campaign and give the ID number: SIKH002719 to have their donation automatically tallied with blood drive totals.
Haripur also said that the campaign has turned a great many Sikhs into regular blood donors who give five or six times a year, not just for this one event.
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