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First National Sikh Blood
Drive takes off
WSN Bureau
 London,
UK, Toronto, Canada; New York, USA: As part of the ambitious Sikh
Nation Blood Drive to commemorate World Blood Donor Day on June 14,
the United Sikhs came out strongly to contribute its mite and joined
Sant Anoop Singh Ji, head of the Bhai Kanhaiya Sevapanthi Centre,
Una in India and collaborated with the UK National Health Service
(NHS), the World Health organization and Canadian Blood Services to
register blood donors in the UK, Canada and the USA.
"We are issuing a
challenge this year to the Sikh community to pledge their share of
blood in their countries," a statement from the community non-profit
said.
With over 700,000
Sikhs in the UK, 500,000 Sikhs in the United States, and 400,000
Sikhs in Canada, the Sikh nation's goal is to register 14,000,
12,500, and 4,800 respectively by the same time next year.
Registering to give
blood does not mean that one must donate right away; rather, it
results in gathering members of the community around the globe to
dedicate themselves to giving in the future.
As the Sikh
population grows throughout the world, so does the need for
increased participation from the Sikh community in their respective
countries. And the need is stronger than ever.
In the United
States, for example, someone is in need of blood every two seconds.
In Canada, another life is saved every sixty seconds thanks to blood
donors. And, in the United Kingdom, the 2.1 million life-saving
procedures performed every year would not have been possible without
blood donations.
Giving just one
pint of blood truly does give life. One blood donation can save
three lives!!
Kuldip Singh,
Director, United Sikhs said, “As a part of the Sikh mission of
service for all, registering as a blood donor is an essential
service as it is a precious gift of selfless generosity. We will
expand our campaign and hope to cover more countries where Sikhs
live, within a year,” he added.
To give succor to
the donor registration campaign in the UK, a mega keertan
(devotional singing) event was held at the Sri Guru Singh Sabha
Gurdwara Southall, London, on 13th and 14th June.
 This
event was led by the Jathedar of Akal Takhat, Singh Sahib Giani
Gurbachan Singh, and Sant Anoop Singh Ji , head of the Bhai Kanhaiya
Sevapanthi Centre, Una.
“Sant Anoop Singh
Ji wanted to do something with the British Sikhs that would benefit
our homeland, Britain, directly. We are British and this is a cause
for our people of all races and religions living here in Britain,”
said Reuben Singh, a key organizing committee member of the event.
Lilet Raffinan of
the Canadian Blood Services commended the Sikh community’s
dedication to the cause thus far, and encouraged continued
participation: "The Sikh community has always been supportive of the
blood drive clinics in the community and those in the area simply
because they believe in such worthy causes. The Sikh community’s
commitment ensures that it is available to every Canadian that needs
it. This is a reason why the Sikh Community has consistently engaged
in blood drives and should continue to do so."
17
June 2009
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