EARLEVILLE, Md. – The third annual Out for Blood Drive, the ancillary spring event to autumn’s In Honor of Maverick Blood Drive, brought in 33 lifesaving donors to Hacks Point Fire Co. on Saturday, April 20.
In all, 39 units were collected. Jason Painter, the blood drive coordinator, created this event to complement the blood drive held in his son Maverick’s honor, a drive that is going on its sixth year. That event, also held at Hacks Point Fire, is held in early September to give back for the eight, lifesaving units that saved his son’s life.
This event also allows painter to combine his passion for blood donations with his passion for powerlifting, as a powerlifting competition also took place in the adjacent bay of the fire company.
Painter, Shane Simmons and their children, Hailey, Maverick and Mylah welcomed the crowd. Painter also thanked all the powerlifters, spectators and, last but not least, Travis Rogers, who organized all of the powerlifting competitions with him.
“Our son, Maverick, is our only surviving triplet born at 25 weeks gestation,” Simmons said. “Maverick needed eight units of blood when he was a baby to survive. He and his dad ended up bonding over powerlifting, and we thought holding a powerlifting meet with a blood drive was such an amazing way to give back to those who loved and supported us through it.
“So, thank you all for being here and we hope to see everyone again next year.”
Ashley Hambling and Alicia Linn also came in together to donate. Hambling has donated at nearly every Maverick and Out for Blood drive, while this was the first one for Linn. Allison Blankenship signed up for the blood drive when she saw her friend, Julie Hambling (Ashley’s mother), post about it on Facebook.
Mike Frey donated as his wife, Kelly, was among the powerlifting competitors. And of course, both of Maverick’s grandmothers, Bobbi Edwards and Kathleen Simmons, were among the donors as well.
