Cheryl's mom, Betty

Elaine Holmquist of Wilmington has donated more than three gallons of blood over the years.

"Thankfully, I've been blessed with excellent health," said Elaine. "It's important to me that I help others who have not been as fortunate, especially considering what my older sister, Gwen, went through as a child."

Elaine's sister, Gwen, was born with a hole in her heart and nearly died. She needed countless blood transfusions, as well as open-heart surgery and other treatments.

The SBC is a competition among 170 local employers, including the City of Wilmington, to recruit the most blood donors and Blood Bank members during the summer months when typically fewer people give blood. The competition helps avoid blood shortages that hit other areas of the country.

Seventy-eight high schools and colleges across the Peninsula held more blood drives this past school year than ever before, resulting in a record number of blood donations. A total of 7,539 blood donations were collected at 125 school blood drives from September 2008 to May 2009 - up nearly 10% from 6,909 donations the previous school year.

The record-breaking School Blood Drive Program is even more noteworthy because of the weather challenges presented this past winter. Back-to-back major snowstorms forced Blood Bank of Delmarva to close donation locations for three days, and many school blood drives were cancelled. All of those blood drives were rescheduled and those donations were recovered thanks to the flexibility and dedication of local schools and students.

NEWARK, DE - Blood Bank of Delmarva will join blood centers around the globe to observe World Blood Donor Day on June 14. The annual event, hosted in Barcelona, Spain this year, highlights the role blood donors play in saving the lives and improving the health of millions each year.

While it is hoped that World Blood Donor Day will create wider awareness of the importance of blood donation and encourage more people to become regular blood donors, the purpose is not to attract a big influx of new donors on June 14. Rather, it is an opportunity to express gratitude to those who donate their blood in order to save lives, without expecting anything in return.

Lynn Holly Oates' three-year-old daughter, Kailyn, is alive today because of blood donors. She was born with a congenital heart defect and needed three open-heart surgeries before she was seventeen months old. Each time she had surgery, she needed blood transfusions.

"Because someone took the time to donate blood, my daughter had what she needed to recover," said Lynn-Holly. "Every time I go to the Blood Bank and give blood, I think about those other people who were sitting in my seat at one time, giving the blood that became a part of Kailyn. I'm extremely grateful."

"My three sons asked me what I wanted for Mother's Day last year, and I told them to skip the potted plant and give blood instead," said Dalton. "They did and I was really touched, not only because I've given blood over the years, but because blood donors helped save my life."

PICTURED: Eileen's three sons

PICTURED: Eileen (front right) with her husband, three sons, and daughter-in-law.

Eileen Dalton of Wilmington is a mother and cancer survivor. Her new foundation, "Give Blood for your Mother," is partnering with Blood Bank of Delmarva to encourage people to give blood in honor of their mom this Mother's Day. All blood donors who come in to donate for their mom at a Blood Bank of Delmarva site through Mother's Day will get a nice card to give her sharing their good deed.

Click on the card to enlarge the image

"My three sons asked me what I wanted for Mother's Day last year, and I told them to skip the potted plant, give blood instead," said Dalton. "They did and I was really touched, not only because I've given blood over the years, but because blood donors helped save my life."