Sailor dedicated to giving the gift of life
Stephanie Burr
Staff writer
January 21, 2008
Stephanie Burr
Lookout
CPO2 David Ross holds his Canadian Blood Services donation card, which marked his 100th donation. It will soon be replaced with a 150th donation card to mark 38 years worth of donating blood.
CPO2 David Ross, 58, rolled up his sleeve for the 150th time last Thursday to give blood to the Canadian Blood Services (CBS). CPO2 Ross, logistics coordinator at Maritime Operations Group Four Logistics, has donated blood every 56 days for the past 38 years.
“My first time was when I was enrolled in Recruit School and the Red Cross came around canvassing,” he says. “In those days if we donated blood we got the rest of the day off.”
Today, CPO2 Ross gives blood for a different reason.
“During my first few times donating I heard the nurses talking about the benefits of donating, and I realized what a huge difference donating can make in someone else’s life.” he says. “It costs me nothing and it means so much to someone else. Donating blood is giving someone else the gift of life for free. For me the question isn’t why donate, it’s why not donate.”
Despite deployments and postings throughout his naval career, CPO2 Ross has always managed to find a blood donation clinic.
“I’ve donated blood all across Canada, and if I wasn’t in the country when it was time for me to donate, I would do it as soon as I got home,” he says. “The Canadian Forces have made it pretty easy to donate over the years, especially as CBS comes right to base.”
Seven times a year, CBS brings their mobile unit to the base.
“CFB Esquimalt is our biggest corporate sponsor in B.C. and the Yukon area. They consistently meet their goal and the first clinic this year was no different,” says Jason Austin, the Community Development Coordinator with CBS. “The clinic was on Jan. 8 and the base collected 100 units; the goal was 90 units of blood.”
Austin says this time of year is especially hard to get people to donate. “Everyone comes out during the holidays to give blood just because the nature of the season. It’s one more gift people feel they can give, a gift they know can’t be bought in stores,” he says. “But between January and April it tends to slow down. It’s a tough time of year and hard for some people to get motivated. It’s people like CPO2 Ross that keep us well stocked in these slower months.”
Since the cut off to donate blood is 65, the days to donate are winding down for CPO2 Ross. “I’m 58-years-old now and they only let you donate until you are 65. But I hope to make it to my 200th donation,” he says. “It’s one of the most rewarding things I do all year, and as long as I’m in the country, I don’t plan on missing my chance to donate.”
The next CBS clinic on the base is March 4.
