Now 15, cancer survivor Jillian Henrichsen learned at an all too early age the harsh realities of life.

Just prior to her second birthday the Summerland girl was diagnosed with a cancer called retinoblastoma.

Although she did lose her right eye, luckily only a single surgery was necessary to remove all of the cancer.

含羞草研究社淏ecause I was so young I really don含羞草研究社檛 remember much, I have only one eye now but I grew up with that,含羞草研究社� said Henrichsen, a Grade 11 student at Summerland Secondary School. 含羞草研究社淢y parents have always been very supportive and they含羞草研究社檝e never held anything back -含羞草研究社� they told me all my stories and were very clear about what happened to me, but now I have my life.含羞草研究社�

While growing up she has spent time at camps with other young people who have or had cancer. She learned one very important fact.

含羞草研究社淕etting to know other kids with cancer who wouldn含羞草研究社檛 have survived without blood made me see with my own eyes how important blood donation really is,含羞草研究社� said Henrichsen. 含羞草研究社淚含羞草研究社檝e met tons of kids there who had leukemia and so now some of my really good friends are leukemia survivors and one of the ways they were able to fight the cancer and beat it was blood transfusions.

含羞草研究社淥ne of my good friends had cancer when she was four so it含羞草研究社檚 not just adults, it含羞草研究社檚 saving a four year old含羞草研究社檚 life so she could actually have a life to live.含羞草研究社�

It can take eight units a week to help someone battling leukemia and it含羞草研究社檚 estimated 100,000 new donors annually are needed to meet demand.

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Although not able to donate blood herself (donors must be 17 or older) she decided to try and get as many other students as possible to make the trip to Penticton Friday for a Canadian Blood Services donor clinic.

含羞草研究社淚 figured if I can含羞草研究社檛 donate I might as well encourage others to. It went well, no one fainted,含羞草研究社� she said. 含羞草研究社淲e had 11 people but two couldn含羞草研究社檛 donate due to low iron, but nine were able to so that was pretty good for the first time.含羞草研究社�

How did she persuade other students to take part?

含羞草研究社淚 told people if you donate you can potentially be saving three lives and so for most people who donated that was enough,含羞草研究社� said Henrichsen who one day hopes to become a paediatric oncologist to treat children with cancer and blood diseases.

According to territory manager Gayle Voyer of Canadian Blood Services, recruiting new donors is critical, especially with the ever-increasing need for blood and blood products.

含羞草研究社淭hat含羞草研究社檚 why the high school program is so important,含羞草研究社� said Voyer. 含羞草研究社淛illian is a champion at her school. Her age didn含羞草研究社檛 matter, she just felt it was important and she含羞草研究社檚 happy to encourage others until she is capable of donating herself.

含羞草研究社淲hen we get a chance to share with students we ask them to look and see if their families have been impacted by someone with heart surgery or a cancer patient who needed blood and by donating this is a way of giving back.含羞草研究社�

The next blood donor clinic locally is Nov. 28 at the Penticton Senior含羞草研究社檚 Drop-In Centre. Appointments are required and can be made online at .