Vernon couple starts #redbagchallenge to help raise blood donations

VERNON – Following on the worldwide success of the ALS Ice Bucket Challenge, a local couple from Vernon have come up with an imaginative way to encourage blood donations.

Glenn and Lisa Gallie came up with the idea to donate blood on camera and then nominate three people who would then have to make a donation themselves.

“It’s similar to the ice bucket challenge but this is not about raising money, it’s about raising blood for the blood clinic,” Glenn says. “Not everybody has money to give but everybody has blood.”

The Vernon clinic is holding a blood drive October 22, 23 and 24 and the Gallie’s are hopeful their challenge idea will help draw people in.

“It would be great if we could get this to go viral,” he says. “But even if we only get ten more people to donate that’s ten people they didn’t have before.”

The couple have also created a Twitter hashtag #redbagchallenge to help promote the idea they say could save hundreds, maybe even thousands, of lives.

If you are interested in participating in the blood challenge, you can drop in or call ahead and book an appointment with the nearest clinic.

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To contact the reporter for this story, email Adam Proskiw at aproskiw@infotelnews.ca or call 250-718-0428. To contact the editor, email mjones@infotelnews.ca or call 250-718-2724.