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.

sa国际传媒淏ecause I was so young I really donsa国际传媒檛 remember much, I have only one eye now but I grew up with that,sa国际传媒� said Henrichsen, a Grade 11 student at Summerland Secondary School. sa国际传媒淢y parents have always been very supportive and theysa国际传媒檝e never held anything back -sa国际传媒� they told me all my stories and were very clear about what happened to me, but now I have my life.sa国际传媒�

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

sa国际传媒淕etting to know other kids with cancer who wouldnsa国际传媒檛 have survived without blood made me see with my own eyes how important blood donation really is,sa国际传媒� said Henrichsen. sa国际传媒淚sa国际传媒檝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.

sa国际传媒淥ne of my good friends had cancer when she was four so itsa国际传媒檚 not just adults, itsa国际传媒檚 saving a four year oldsa国际传媒檚 life so she could actually have a life to live.sa国际传媒�

It can take eight units a week to help someone battling leukemia and itsa国际传媒檚 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.

sa国际传媒淚 figured if I cansa国际传媒檛 donate I might as well encourage others to. It went well, no one fainted,sa国际传媒� she said. sa国际传媒淲e had 11 people but two couldnsa国际传媒檛 donate due to low iron, but nine were able to so that was pretty good for the first time.sa国际传媒�

How did she persuade other students to take part?

sa国际传媒淚 told people if you donate you can potentially be saving three lives and so for most people who donated that was enough,sa国际传媒� 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.

sa国际传媒淭hatsa国际传媒檚 why the high school program is so important,sa国际传媒� said Voyer. sa国际传媒淛illian is a champion at her school. Her age didnsa国际传媒檛 matter, she just felt it was important and shesa国际传媒檚 happy to encourage others until she is capable of donating herself.

sa国际传媒淲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.sa国际传媒�

The next blood donor clinic locally is Nov. 28 at the Penticton Seniorsa国际传媒檚 Drop-In Centre. Appointments are required and can be made online at .