Date: 2025/09/27 12:00am

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As Chairman of the Blood Donor Committee for the new Hamilton South Masonic District, my talk today is to underscore an urgent need in our community and invite your support for blood donor efforts.
Every day, lives depend on the generosity of blood donors.
Here are some pertinent statistics for Canada:

Every minute, that’s every 60 seconds, someone in Canada needs blood.
1 in 2 Canadians will need blood at some point in their lifetime.
Nearly everyone in this room will at some point in their life either need blood themselves or will know someone who will need it.

It is estimated that around 1 in 2 Canadians are eligible to donate blood, yet only 1 in 81 do.
That’s about 1.5 % of Canadians actually donate.
More than half of all Canadians (52%), say they or a family member have needed blood or blood products for surgery, treatment, childbirth, or other therapies.

Given this gap between eligibility and actual donation, as well as the large proportion of people who require blood services, we have both a moral imperative and a practical responsibility to encourage more members of our community to step forward.
The Masonic fraternity has a long tradition of service and charity. In that spirit, we are organizing donation events and awareness campaigns to make donating safer, easier, and more accessible. We would greatly appreciate your partnership in spreading the word, participating, or hosting drives.
Hugh Murray Lodge has many members who regularly volunteer at the Ancaster Blood Clinic, helping the donors enjoy their time, and letting them know how much they are appreciated and needed.
Thank you for considering this appeal. Your involvement can make the difference in saving lives.