Motew Volunteers as Hockey Gives Blood Ambassador
Kitchener, Ont. – Kitchener Rangers defenceman Simon Motew announced Wednesday, September 20th that he has joined Hockey Gives Blood as a volunteer player ambassador ahead of the 2023-24 season.
“I’ve always wanted to do something to help others,” said Rangers Blueliner Motew. “When the opportunity to become an Ambassador for Hockey Gives Blood to help spread awareness about blood and stem cell donations I was honoured to follow in the footsteps of Jacob Ingham, Reid Valade and Lleyton Moore as the Rangers Hockey Gives Blood Ambassador.”
Motew, who is an overager and has been a part of the Rangers Hockey Club since 2020, has seen former teammates Reid Valade, and Lleyton Moore be instrumental as Hockey Gives Blood Ambassadors. As a veteran leader on the team, Motew has now stepped up to the plate this season to help inspire others to give blood and help the community after seeing what an impact giving blood can make.
“Last year I did my first blood donation for Hockey Gives Blood and while I was there, I learned how important it was to donate blood, stem cells, and plasma. Donating is such a small thing in our eyes but to people who are in need, it means the world to them,” he stated. “The impact it makes on other people’s lives is why I decided to be an ambassador.”
Hockey Gives Blood is a non-profit society that has partnered with the Canadian Blood Services in an effort to engage and educate the hockey community about the importance of blood, plasma, stem cells, and organ & tissue donation.
The inspiration for this group came from two separate events; the first being the death of Tom Middleton (father of Stu Middleton, co-founder of Hockey Gives Blood) and the second being the Humboldt Broncos tragedy. Stu’s father was killed on the Trans-Canada Highway while en route to one of his Junior games in 2000. Stu’s teammates and the local hockey community helped him through that difficult time just as Canadians witnessed the hockey community rallying together to help those affected by the accident in Humboldt. In the wake of the 2018 tragedy, Hockey Gives Blood set out to build something that is positive, long-lasting, and is a tool for the hockey community to make a positive impact at every level.
The team is comprised of former players who believe Hockey Gives Blood has the potential to be a leader in sports benevolence. As passionate as they are about hockey, they are just as enthusiastic about this incredible movement!
