According to statistics, a person in Canada is in need of blood every 60 seconds. In an effort to address that dire need, the City of Oshawa and Lakeridge Health are organizing a blood donation battle – the first of its kind in the city. The two factions will be competing against each other to see which side can draw in the most blood donations during the months of May and June.

It may be for a good cause, but both sides are taking this competition seriously.

Oshawa Mayor John Gray is apparently excited to get the ball rolling, and is busy making preparations for the event.

He and Lakeridge Health CEO and president Kevin Empey have a standing bet: if the City wins, Empey will be in charging of mowing grass at the city’s parks and city hall. Mayor Gray is so confident of winning that he even joked that Empey will have a lot of mowing to do, since he’ll make sure to locate the weediest parks for him.

If Lakeridge Health wins on the other hand, Empey will have the mayor and his staff serve meals to Lakeridge Health Oshawa’s patients. The hospital even has a dish cloth and scrubs with the mayor’s name on them, Empey taunted back.

Judy Compton, who works with the Canadian Blood Services, is excited to see both sides ready to pitch in for a worthy cause.