The 14th Annual Sikh Nation Blood Donation Campaign is this week.
The campaign, which started in 1999, 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.
Blood donation has become a tool 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.
The Surrey blood drive runs Friday, Nov. 9 and Saturday, Nov. 10 from 9: 30 a.m. to 5 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.