Employees, clients and others connected through a yoga studio in Red Deer banded together for a blood drive on Saturday in honour of one student’s late brother.

Houaida Haddad assists visitors and helps maintain the studio at YogaNation in return for classes through its Energy Exchange program.

Her brother Ziade was killed in a motorcycle crash in Edmonton in September. He was a 29-year-old computer programmer who loved to ride, Haddad said.

As well, Haddad’s father is also undergoing aggressive chemotherapy for cancer.

She said that while neither used a blood transfusion, others in similar situations need them.

Hence, the blood drive, which brought members of her family, and Dawn Burvill, YogaNation co-owner.

Burvill and Canadian Blood Services territory manager Shaun Richer have been friends for years. She said Richer approached her to organize a drive to raise awareness of the need for donations, as the studio hosts a large community that could be tapped into.

She said a cause like this brings employees and patrons closer together.

“All of us have a connection with somebody that’s in need of blood. Whether it’s somebody going through cancer treatment, somebody who’s been in an automobile accident. It’s important to get your group together, reach out to friends and family and come donate to this worthy cause,” Burvill said.

“When I donated, it was the most wonderful feeling I ever had when I left. And I got a cookie too.”

A single blood donation measures about 450 millilitres. According to the Canadian Blood Services, it can take up to 50 units to save a single car crash victim and 100,000 new donors are needed each year to meet the demand for blood.