On Monday, The American Red Cross of Boston College (ARC-BC) held a blood drive in light of the Boston Marathon Bombings. To say BC students stepped up would be an understatement. They really exemplified “Men and Women for Others”. Lines out of the door, an hour wait just to donate. But that didn’t discourage any of the donors. People of all different ages, those who ran in the marathon, those who cheered them on, and those there simply just to help all gathered in the Walsh Function Room today. Myself, being from munchkinland, was not able to donate, but I interviewed a few donors about why they were donating.
Russell Smith, a law student here at BC, says he always donates but being that he actually ran in the marathon on Monday, today he wanted to give back and donated blood for all those who were injured. I also spoke with three sophomores as well and asked them why they were donating. Laura Huggard said that after the attack she wanted to give back to people who needed help in any way that she could. Nicaela Chinnaswamy, who also ran in the marathon on Monday, said that she’s been donating blood every since her brother was in a bike accident and needed blood. Gillian Walsh said she donated to help out and also added, “I’m here for the free t-shirt too”.
When I asked if she had any advice for those who wanted to donate but were nervous, nurse Jan Sinclair replied, “Just talk about being nervous. Pretty much everyone is nervous even people who donate all the time. And if everyone who was nervous didn’t donate, we wouldn’t have anyone”.
The nurses assisting at the blood drive said that there were over 130 appointments Monday, bringing in over 80 pints of blood to help those injured during the Boston Marathon bombings. I was told there have been about four times as many people as normal donating blood since Monday’s events. A status I saw on Facebook that put it perfectly: “When Gotham City needs a hero they turn to Batman. When Boston needs a hero, they turn to each other”. For whatever their motives were for donating blood, I’d like to thank all those who donated today. You did a great thing.
Don’t Miss the Next Opportunity to Donate!! All blood types are needed, but especially Type O.
Wednesday 4/24 (11:00 a.m.-5: 00 p.m.) in the Walsh Function Room
Free t-shirt & pizza for all presenting donors.
To sign up: Follow the links on MyBC for donation or volunteer appointment.
· https://orgsync.com/42671/events
· You can also go directly to http://www.redcrossblood.org/make-donation and enter the sponsor code 943 or call 1-800-RED CROSS
Questions? Contact the BC-ARC at arc.bostoncollege@gmail.com