The police are going head-to-head against firefighters, all for a good cause.
West Shore RCMP and Langford firefighters are challenging each other to see which department can donate the most blood to Canadian Blood Services.
The goal of the first-time challenge is to encourage residents to donate blood for the summer season, often the busiest.
“We’re always happy if our little challenge spurs people to go out and give blood, that’s perfect,” RCMP Cpl. Kathy Rochlitz said.
Firefighters and police officers have from July 23 to Sept. 7 to donate before a winner is declared.
The losing department will have to wash the vehicles of the winning department – a punishment that Rochlitz said isn’t fair because the fire department’s vehicles are substantially larger.
“Pride is on the line for us so everybody’s going to do their best,” Rochlitz said. “It’s all in good fun because it’s for a very good cause.”
Canadian Blood Services will track the donations from the two departments.
The number of members in the two departments is fairly even, so each department should have a good shot at winning.
“I have a pretty good feeling that we’ll win,” said Langford Fire Rescue Lieut. Steve Adams. “But having said that it’s more or less irrelevant. It’s the fun of the competition and at the end of the day we all win if we get the majority of our membership donating blood.”
kwells@goldstreamgazette.com