Canadian jazz vocalist Ranee Lee will meet donors at the annual Côte Saint-Luc blood donor clinic, which takes place on Wednesday, April 27, 2011 from 1:15 pm to 8 pm at the municipal Gymnasium at 7500 Mackle Rd. 

“We’re issuing a challenge this year to regular blood donors to bring someone who has never given before,” said Councillor Ruth Kovac, a long-time blood donor who is the chairperson of the event. “Only 3 percent of Quebecers who are eligible to donate blood actually give this gift of life. That number is too low, especially as the need in hospitals is so great.” 

Special guest Ranee Lee will meet donors from 2 pm to 3:30 pm. Lee won a Juno Award in 2010 for her album Ranee Lee Lives Upstairs. She lives in Montreal. 

I have always been a big fan of Ranee.  Many years ago I did a series of stories on her son Darryl Henegan, a champion kickboxer. Ranee and I connected at CJAD a few times in the past year. She is a lovely person and when I asked if she would  visit our Blood Donor Clinic she graciously agreed.

Here she is on stage:

 

Anyone who is at least 18 years old and in good health can donate blood once every 56 days, which is six times per year. Review the donor qualifications at www.hema-quebec.qc.ca or call 1-800-343-4264. 

The four most common blood types are 0 blood (46 percent), A blood (42 percent), B blood (9 percent) and AB blood (3 percent).