EASTERN SHORE STUDENTS HONORED FOR BREAKING BLOOD DONATION RECORDS
Blood Bank of Delmarva held an awards luncheon to recognize 14 high schools in Dorchester, Somerset, Wicomico and Worcester counties for their lifesaving contributions to the 2007-2008 School Blood Drive Program.
Students at those schools contributed 935 units of blood last year. Thanks to schools across the Peninsula, a record total of 6,684 donations were collected at 115 school blood drives from September 2007 to May 2008.
The following schools took top honors for the largest number of blood donors:
First Place - Parkside High School - 137 donors
Second Place - Pocomoke High School - 118 donors
Third Place - Wicomico High School - 91 donors
The other participating schools include: Salisbury School- 20 donors; Holly Grove Christian School- 44 donors; Mardela High School- 48 donors; Cambridge South Dorchester High School- 48 donors; Washington High School- 50 donors; Stephen Decatur High School- 52 donors; James M. Bennett High School- 58 donors; Salisbury Christian School- 61 donors; North Dorchester High School- 61 donors; Snow Hill High School- 62 donors; and Crisfield High School- 85 donors.
"The goal is to attract the most donors - and save lives. Students do everything from recruiting blood donors to helping on the day of the drive, and it's really encouraging to see the enthusiasm," said Suzanne Murray, Blood Bank school blood drive coordinator. "The competition has been one of the most effective tools we have to attract young people to give blood, and in our eyes, all the schools are winners."
By providing a positive, first-time experience giving blood, the Blood Bank hopes to establish a relationship with young donors that will last a lifetime. Currently less than 7% of all Blood Bank members are under the age of 35.
Deanna Brown, of Laurel, Delaware, was at the luncheon to share her amazing story about the need for blood. Deanna lost her husband Gerry to a 5-year battle with leukemia. In the beginning of his chemotherapy treatments, Gerry needed red blood cell and platelet transfusions every day. Those transfusions helped him live a longer, healthier life than he would have otherwise.
PICTURED: Brown Family, 2006
"My husband is the most courageous person I've ever met," Deanna said. "Even through aggressive chemotherapy and medical treatments, he insisted on using his own illness to help others with leukemia. I will continue to do this now by encouraging all of my friends, family, and co-workers to become frequent blood donors."
PICTURED: Deanna and her son Dale stand next to the tree that they planted in Gerry's memory.
