It was a full house at the second blood clinic held for a Chatham-Kent police officer who is battling a serious illness.
The Chatham-Kent Police Service created the campaign "Arms out for Andrew" after Constable Andrew Gaiswinkler was diagnosed with acute myeloid leukemia.
Following a successful blood drive in February, a second blood donor clinic was held on Wednesday at the Spirit of Life Centre in Chatham.
Kris Herfst, who was at the clinic, says she is a civilian at the police department and has worked with Constable Gaiswinkler.
Poster for the blood drive clinic being held on February 24 for CKPS Traffic Officer Constable Andrew Gaiswinkler. Photo taken from MyCk.ca event calendar).
"I'm hoping it will help out in anyway possible," says Herfst. "I think it is in us to give and it is a great show of support from the police family."
Liz Fleming is another friend of Gaiswinkler's who came to give to blood.
"I've known Andrew for years and I admire him. I'm just happy to do it... I hope he gets better," she says.
Jim Carpenter, who is a regular blood donor, says he is glad to help out.
"It's something I've been doing for a long time just to give back. It's something you can do quite easily," he says. "Years ago the father was sick and he needed a lot of blood and a lot of people helped him, so this is my way to pay them back."
Chatham-Kent Police Service Constable Jason Herder says it was a "packed full house" from the start and stayed steady throughout the day.
According to Herder, Gaiswinkler has found a stem cell donor match but is still waiting to find out when that transplant will be.
"He's still in the fight of his life and battling away," says Herder. "We keep in contact with him weekly and still our thoughts and prayers are with him."
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