Fifty one seniors will graduate wearing red cords for giving blood. The annual Spring Blood Drive was held May 1 for anyone over 17 or over 16 year old with a parent signed waiver. Students and parents donated 35 units of blood and 3 more doubles (plasma) at the blood drive.
“Mrs. Collier and I both help with the blood drive,” blood drive sponsor Katie Wade said. “We make the student sign-up sheet and a workers list, we check it with the no travel list, we get the facilities ready by making sure we have the gym booked and the tables and chairs ready to use.”
The blood drive is an event that happens every year and any student and staff is allowed to participate. The students who choose to participate and donate twice their senior year graduate with a blood donor cord as a senior.
“This will be my second time donating blood,” senior Gabariella Irteimeh said. “I am donating so I can get my red cord and to help people who need it.”
Donating blood helps many people all over the world who are in need of emergency blood.
“I never have a goal for how many donations, because a lot of people will try to give and not be able to donate for medical purposes,” said Wade said. “We also have a lot of seniors that donate on their own time. I encourage students who can physically give blood to sign up during elective classes. I especially encourage seniors to give so they can earn a red cord.
Even though not everyone is participating this time as some couldn’t as they had other events that same day like drum major and section leader try-out’s and would need their energy they have decided to donate blood the next time possible.
“I am always proud of how many seniors go out of their way to donate or find someone who can donate for them,” Wade said. “Donating blood saves lives and our students recognize this!”
This year the blood drive was behind schedule and prioritized the seniors so many of the students that signed up didn’t actually donate blood. If you want to donate blood next time make sure that you do not sign up during a core subject class.
