Hundreds of local police officers, firefighters and paramedics turned out to donate blood for a good cause.
They attended a 'Uniforms Unite to Save Lives' clinic in honour of Bailey Cowell at St. Joe's in downtown Chatham on Wednesday.
Bailey would have turned 16 Wednesday, but passed away 16 years ago because of a heart condition.
Chatham-Kent police Constable Renee Cowell says her daughter Bailey used 140 units of blood while she was in hospital and the clinic is a way to give back.
"It's amazing to see the comradery specially with people here in uniform within Chatham-Kent. We're here rolling up our sleeves with the community looking to replace those 140 units that Bailey used at Sick Kids," says Cowell.
This year's blood donor clinic is the seventh annual.
The next clinic is April 22 from 9am until 12pm at the Polish Canadian Club.
Cowell says donating blood is easy to do.
"It's an hour of your time. Some people are afraid of needles, but that's not the case here. Everybody here is very professional, they work with you to ease all your fears, dispel all your myths, and if you can roll up your sleeves and donate blood, you never know who's life you might be saving," she says.
Cowell says donating blood can save lives, and wants to thank those in uniform and civilians who donated.
"I just want to say a heartfelt thank you. We see on a daily basis the need for blood as part of our job," Cowell says.
