Support Daniel O'Connor's fight: Blood Drive, March 21-23

When starting Center Fielder Daniel O'Connor (Etobicoke/), known to teammates simply as "OC", was diagnosed with cancer in the summer of 2017, a lot changed. The fourth-year Urban Planning student realized that his student experience would become vastly different than his classmates, teammates, and friends.

"When I was diagnosed in late July with lymphoma, I quickly realized that my everyday routines would drastically change. One of the things that hit me hardest was the fact that I would have to sit out the OUA season while undergoing treatments," said O'Connor.

"Not being able to play baseball for the Warriors this year was devastating, but I knew right away that I wanted to remain as involved as possible with the team. Practicing in between treatments, travelling to games, and just being around such a supportive group of teammates and coaches on a consistent basis made me feel somewhat normal again and really took my mind off of everything negative going on in my life health-wise".

Despite working through treatments during the varsity season and winter term, O'Connor has remained a consistent presence at Warrior team activities, and has embraced an important role as a leader with the team.

"OC's contributions to our team, helping to drive a new culture within our program have been very important" mentioned Warriors Assistant Coach, Ben Norris (Waterloo).

"He's a team-first guy who has dealt with more adversity than any student-athlete should have to endure, battling this disease. Knowing Daniel and the kind of person that he is, he has embraced this challenge with a positive mindset, and it has been truly inspiring."

In an effort to show support for O'Connor's battle, the Warriors Baseball team is working with Canadian Blood Services to promote a week-long campaign on campus, urging all students and staff to take a moment and donate blood. Blood Donations will be accepted in the SLC from March 21-23, from 10am-3pm.

"We recognized that there is an ongoing need for blood donations in our region," said coach Norris.

"When I threw the idea out to our players, they thought that it would be a great way to show our support for Daniel and his family, to raise awareness for this need in our community, and to help encourage all members of our Warrior Community to give back! Canada-wide, we know that there is also a need for Stem Cell donations, so we're going to get tested to see if we might be able to support anyone who might find themselves needing a Stem Cell donor as well."

"Giving blood is something that is easy for us to do, and could be the difference in the life of someone battling cancer, surviving a car accident, or giving birth" says Warriors shortstop and team captain Erik Werner (Burlington/). "Coach Norris got the ball rolling, and we thought we'd try to pump it out on social media and see how many Warriors we could get to donate."

A number of Alumni have committed to donating from afar, such as former Warrior captain Haydon Friesen (Altona). He has booked an appointment to donate at a clinic in Manitoba, where he resides. "O'Connor is a great guy, and I'm more than happy to give a few pints of blood in the name of a former teammate and friend. Hopefully we can work together to help a lot of people."

Whether donating to support a fellow UWaterloo student, relative, friend, or colleague, the Warrior Baseball team and the Department of Athletics and Recreation would like to encourage everyone to give blood in the SLC from March 21^st-23^rd, and show how your Warrior Blood can make a difference.

Use the hashtags GoBlackGoGold WeFightTogether to spread the message and show pictures of you or your group donating!

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Players Mentioned

#7 Ben Norris: 5' 11"; First Year; 4

#6 Haydon Friesen: 5' 10"; Second Year; 2

#9 Daniel O'Connor: 6' 0"; Second Year

#8 Erik Werner: 5' 6"; Third Year

Players Mentioned

#7 Ben Norris
: 5' 11"; First Year; 4

#6 Haydon Friesen
: 5' 10"; Second Year; 2

#9 Daniel O'Connor
: 6' 0"; Second Year

#8 Erik Werner
: 5' 6"; Third Year

Scoreboard

Players Mentioned

Players Mentioned