ETSU’s Homecoming blood
drive exceeded expectations
by posting 26 more donations
than their original goal of 130.
The donation, which took
place on Oct. 21-22 in the D.P.
Culp University Center ballroom,
was a continuation of
a long tradition of universitysponsored
blood drives. Each
semester, student organization
Volunteer ETSU and the
American Red Cross hold a
blood drive in an effort to save
lives.
Gwen Hunter, donor recruitment
representative for the
Johnson City Red Cross chapter,
was pleased with both the
excess of donors and the level
of student interest.
“This is fantastic,” Hunter
said. “It’s wonderful to see so
many college students stepping
up to the plate and giving so
generously of themselves.”
VETSU President Sara
Warfield shared Hunter’s
excitement.
“We had a really great turnout,”
Warfield said. “A lot of the
people here really wanted to
help.”
The total turnout for the
two-day event was 156. The
goal, which was set by the Red
Cross and VETSU, was 65
units of blood per day.
VETSU Vice President Ginger
Bastian added that the timing
of the event was taken into
account.
“It helps get the students
involved in Homecoming,” Bastian
said. “And we get a larger
turnout. Students come out
and show their support.”
Warfield and Hunter both
wanted to stress the significance
of blood donation during
the event.
“Each blood donation can be split three times,” Warfield said,
“so you can save three lives for
every one donation.”
“A lot of (blood) is used for
trauma situations,” Hunter
said, “but most of it is used in
treatment of disease.”
Caitlin McCowan received
donated blood for the treatment
of one of these diseases.
Since her treatment, McCowan,
a junior public relations major,
has been active in promoting
blood donation awareness.
“Caitlin has been a great proponent
for blood donation,”
Hunter said. “She’s a beautiful
young lady who really puts a
face to blood donation and the
treatment of disease.”
McCowan, like Hunter and
Warfield, stresses that the
treatment of disease by use
of donated blood should be
emphasized in order to increase
donations.
“Most people think that the
blood’s only good for car accident
victims, or trauma victims,”
McCowan said, “and
that’s the perspective I had,
until this happened.”
The collected blood samples
will be dispersed throughout
103 various hospitals within
the region. For more information
on donating blood, visit
www.redcross.org.

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