‘If you want to save someone’s life, give blood’: Chiara’s blood drive

Chiara’s parents hosted a blood drive in honour of their daughter, who’s in remission from Leukemia, looking to help others.

We got to know the now 4-year-old Chiara back in November when they won tickets through a Rogers’ contest to see Taylor Swift’s Eras tour live in Toronto.

We caught up with the pair again in December after the big show.

“She’s doing great, she is coming up to the end soon, we only have about a month and a half left of treatment, so, by summer we’re all done,” said Chiara’s mother, Christine Clogg, at the blood drive she and her husband organized in partnership with Héma-Québec.

Even though she doesn’t need blood transfusions anymore, Chiara was the recipient of four blood transfusions throughout her battle with leukemia.

“When she did when she got those I told myself, okay, I’m gonna match it, so every transfusion she gets I’ll donate it, but then at one point we saw in the Héma-Québec website that they’re low on her type of blood so that’s what really inspired me to to start this blood drive,” said her father Ryan Langton, who was at the blood drive all day.

“The people that are sick need blood,” said Jorge Rebelo, Héma-Québec supervisor at blood drive located at Macdonald High School in St-Anne-de-Bellevue.

“It’s good to have the donors, they’re being very generous to come and to take their time for at least an hour to get blood, and that could be able to save at least four lives,” added Rebelo.

For some donors, the blood drive in honour of Chiara, was their first time giving blood. But others have been donating for years – like Iman Rezai, who gave blood for the 21st time.

“Just to help, do my part in society. I’m helping whoever is in need. If I can help, why not? And I’m hoping that if ever I’m in need others will do the same,” answered Rezai when asked why he came to donate his blood.

Community members came out to give blood – even close friends of Chiara’s family.

“It’s a privilege having people like Ryan and Christine in my corner and as friends of ours, they’re extremely strong parents,” said close friend of the family, Robert Beauregard as he was donating blood.

“We’re all rooting for them and really happy to support in any way we can,” he said.

Chiara’s parents say they’re astonished and by the overwhelming support they’ve received from family, friends and the community over the years their daughter fought her illness with bravery.

“It takes your breath away,” said Langton. “We couldn’t ask for more, and just doing this gives us such a good feeling,” he said, referring to the blood drive they organized as their way to give back.

For those who missed Chiara’s blood drive and want to donate in the future – Rebelo says Héma-Québec has already organized other blood drives next week on May 14, 2025 at Edgewater MPNED Elementary School in Pincourt and on May 16, 2025 at Cité-des-Jeunes MVDCJ High School in Vaudreuil-Dorion for those that live in the area.

There’s also another option for those who live in other regions.

“You can go to the website of Héma-Québec, and you can see all the addresses and all the blood-driving clinics will be available in the future,” said Rebelo.