WRPS blood drive pays tribute to officer’s late daughter

Members of the Waterloo Regional Police Service (WRPS) held a blood drive yesterday to pay tribute to an officer’s six-year-old daughter who passed away from cancer last month at the Hospital for Sick Children (SickKids).

Karl and Sarah Dovick’s daughter, Autumn, went through roughly 80 to 100 blood transfusions. They said it was special and heartwarming to see so many officers come out to donate.

“Blood has been a very important part of her life and her journey and our journey as well too. I started donating blood when Autumn got sick, and when I realized the importance of what it meant,” said Karl.

About 20 or more officers came to support and donate blood on Tuesday, some of which were in Karl’s graduating class and knew Autumn personally.

“They’ve sent a bunch of their officers, whether they’re on duty right now and they’re taking their lunch break to do this, or people have come on their days off, they’ve put the word out and there’s a bunch of officers here donating blood in her name, which is amazing,” said Sarah.

The Dovicks started an annual blood drive when Autumn was first diagnosed in February 2022. For a week in February, they encourage friends and family to donate blood at Canadian Blood Service clinics.

“Without blood, she wouldn’t have lasted with us for that long; we’ve had issues in the past of going to hospitals and being told there is no blood for Autumn available. We’d have to drive across the GTA to get blood for her if we wanted to do that,” said Karl.

Sarah was unable to donate because she gave birth to her son a few months ago. She does, however, have plans to donate in September, which is six months to the day after Jack was born and her 31st birthday.

“Whether it’s a child with cancer needing a transfusion, someone whose had a tragic accident or someone with other blood disorders that need it, it’s really important; it’s needed all the time and people are getting transfusions, more people than you know I think,” said Sarah.

They’re hoping to inspire the community to come out to donate blood, and be part of Team Autumn.