Donor Record Shattered at 10th Annual Beach Blanket Blood Drive
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Ocean City, MD- Across two chilly, blustery winter days this week, 640 generous people left the warmth of their homes and jobs in order to make a potentially enormous difference to the lives of people they likely did not even know. They made time to be blood donors at the 10th Annual Ocean City Beach Blanket Blood Drive on January 29 and 30, and their participation shattered the previous record for the number of registered donors (set in 2006 with 606 registered donors) by nearly 6%.
"The support from the community was incredible- and the impact is even more impressive," said Robbie Tarpley Raffish, spokesperson for Blood Bank of Delmarva. "When broken down into separate blood components, a single blood donation can save up to three lives. We were able to collect 577 units of blood; if you multiply that by three, more than 1,700 hospital patients could be impacted across Delmarva because of the generosity of these donors."
The Beach Blanket Blood Drive was established in 1999 to help secure the blood supply on Delmarva each winter, making up for missed appointments by regular donors who become ill with colds or flu, take winter vacations, or who cannot get to a donation appointment because of inclement weather.
The event is sponsored by the Town of Ocean City, which has donated the use of the Convention Center since the event's inception. The co-sponsor is the Coastal Association of REALTORS, which helps promote the event and provides dozens of volunteers for the information tables and canteen.
Several Ocean City businesses donated thousands of dollars worth of food and beverages to the canteen (post-blood donation area) and helped underwrite the cost of the free commemorative long-sleeve t-shirts that were provided to every registered donor. Live music from Clear Channel and Delmarva Broadcasting radio stations and entertainment by John LaMere, singer of local band Crowded Outhouse, and Carlos Mir, representative of the American Diabetes Association- and consummate juggler- were also highlights of this year's event.
"This event showcases how every aspect of the community comes together to support the Blood Bank, and we thank everyone involved for their generosity," said Suzanne Murray, Blood Bank of Delmarva Account Executive.
George Rosenstock of Berlin is a ten-year donor to the Beach Blanket Blood Drive. "I come every year because I know the blood is needed," said Rosenstock. "I feel good knowing my donation will go to help someone in need. They don't even have to ask me to come back next year, I'm there."
New to the Beach Blanket Blood Drive this year was the option for donors to have their blood screened for diabetes. Nearly 500 people took advantage of the opportunity and had their donation screened for the disease. Their results will be available online in a password-protected area of the BBD website within 72 hours of their donation.
Beach Blanket Blood Drive by the Numbers
The 2008 Beach Blanket Blood Drive:
- Registered 640 donors- 51 more than the 2007 drive, and the most recorded in the history of the event
- Collected 577 units of blood
- Screened nearly 500 donors for diabetes
- Enrolled 64 new Blood Bank members
