Seasoned superhero uses powers to champion blood donor cause

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This article was published 01/05/2024 (880 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Westman’s Brian Sutherland has a soft spot for kids and a love of superheroes, and that’s why he says donating blood dressed as Superman is a perfect way to show support and tap into his “inner geekiness” at the same time.

“Donating blood is easy,” Sutherland said. “And dressing up as a superhero is all about having fun, enjoying things and helping the world be a better place.”

Both Brian and his wife Amber have donated time and money to non-profits in the past. They owned a well-known haunted house called Grim Acres just west of Brandon from 2010 to 2022, and in those 12 years raised more than $130,000 for the Canadian Cancer Society.

After the haunted house closed, Brian carried on with another initiative he started called Superheroes Against Cancer Alliance.

The alliance raises money through the sale of comic books that he created, with all funds donated to the Dream Factory Manitoba and Westman Dreams for Kids — two organizations that fulfil wishes for children who are battling life-threatening illnesses.

“We send the comic books to kids around the world who are affected by cancer — to the United States and as far away as New Zealand,” Sutherland said. “And we saw the positive impact not just with the kids, but with the parents as well.

“When your kid has cancer, you go through hell, so anything we can do to help alleviate the pressure the parents feel and give joy to kids, that’s worth it right there,” said Sutherland.

It was while Sutherland was browsing online that he came across a blood donor awareness program based in Ontario called Suit Up For Jack. It’s named after a young boy named Jack Malott-Clarke, who has aplastic anemia, a condition that happens when the body stops producing new blood cells.

At his sickest, when Jack was 10 years old in 2019, he was receiving a blood transfusion and platelets twice a week. To date, he has received more than 130 units of blood and platelets.

According to the website that has been set up in his name, Jack loves superheroes and is an avid cosplayer. Cosplay is a blend of the two words “costume” and “play.”

Sutherland said after learning about Jack and his love of superheroes, he signed up to donate blood in Brandon right away. That was five donations ago.

“With Suit Up For Jack, you can dress up as anybody that’s a cosplay character,” Sutherland said. “You can be a superhero, anime or movie character. Most of my characters are based on my two favourite heroes: Batman and Superman.

“And since it’s all about awareness and being an inspiration to people, you’re asked to take a picture while donating blood holding a sign that says #suitupforjack and share that photo on social media,” said Sutherland.

Western Manitobans are generous when it comes to donating blood, said Brett Lawrence, community development manager with Canadian Blood Services in Winnipeg.

One in 82 Manitobans donate blood, which works out to slightly more than two per cent of the population, Lawrence said.

And last summer there was a “huge drop in engaged donors, and not just in Manitoba.” That’s why, Lawrence added, there’s a need for a new generation of people who are willing to roll up their sleeves.

There are two blood donor clinics scheduled for Brandon in May — the first is on Thursday and the second is on the 16th.

“Brandon is always filling up. It’s great. It’s a community that always comes together for its blood drive, but we are always needing new donors to come in,” Lawrence said.

“It’s not the mix of age that we would like it to be when we think about long-term donation. So, we’re really trying to engage people who’ve never donated before, like high school and university-aged people, because blood donation isn’t on their minds the same way it was with their parents or grandparents.

“We’re trying to get the people to donate from a young age and continue for the rest of their life to ensure that we continue to collect the blood we need,” he said.

Someone who is receiving treatment for leukemia may need eight units — or pints of blood — a week. For a situation like a car crash, an individual could require up to 50 units of blood.

Canadian Blood Services also has a stem cell registry, which people between the age of 17 and 35 can join. Once people donate stem cells, they regenerate, Lawrence said.

“The registry is set up to see if you could be a match for someone undergoing lymphoma or leukemia treatment who may need a stem cell transplant because there was no match within their immediate family. And when you register, you could be on it for the rest of your life,” he said.

For more information on donating blood or other blood products, visit https://www.blood.ca/en

» mmcdougall@brandonsun.com

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