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.

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

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

鈥淕etting to know other kids with cancer who wouldn鈥檛 have survived without blood made me see with my own eyes how important blood donation really is,鈥� said Henrichsen. 鈥淚鈥檝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.

鈥淥ne of my good friends had cancer when she was four so it鈥檚 not just adults, it鈥檚 saving a four year old鈥檚 life so she could actually have a life to live.鈥�

It can take eight units a week to help someone battling leukemia and it鈥檚 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.

鈥淚 figured if I can鈥檛 donate I might as well encourage others to. It went well, no one fainted,鈥� she said. 鈥淲e had 11 people but two couldn鈥檛 donate due to low iron, but nine were able to so that was pretty good for the first time.鈥�

How did she persuade other students to take part?

鈥淚 told people if you donate you can potentially be saving three lives and so for most people who donated that was enough,鈥� 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.

鈥淭hat鈥檚 why the high school program is so important,鈥� said Voyer. 鈥淛illian is a champion at her school. Her age didn鈥檛 matter, she just felt it was important and she鈥檚 happy to encourage others until she is capable of donating herself.

鈥淲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.鈥�

The next blood donor clinic locally is Nov. 28 at the Penticton Senior鈥檚 Drop-In Centre. Appointments are required and can be made online at .