Passion runs through the veins of ISU Blood Drive volunteers
A student donates their blood during the ISU Spring Blood Drive, March 6 in the Memorial Union. The drive, partnered with the American Red Cross, Life Serve and the Mississippi Valley Regional Blood Center, aim to help save countless lives via blood donation.
March 6, 2017
When Connor Recker, junior in construction engineering, was born, his red blood cells didn’t function correctly.
Facing death, blood donors saved his life.
“I will never know the person who saved my life back when I was born,” Recker said. “But if they hadn’t given their time, their blood, chances are I wouldn’t have made it.”
Now, Recker is one of three co-directors for the ISU Blood Drive. As one of the largest student-run blood drives in the Midwest, the ISU Blood Drive committee has made a goal to have 2,000 donors.
The blood centers take that estimate and present it to the hospitals that rely on the donor prediction. Blood is taken from the blood drive to be tested and then sent to the hospitals.
“I hope people realize how good of an impact it has,” Recker said. “It’s literally giving the gift of life to people.”
Students can donate from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. each day until Thursday in the Great Hall of the Memorial Union. Jen Simmons, senior in kinesiology and health, said that drawing blood takes about five to 10 minutes, and she wanted to clarify that not everyone passes out after giving blood.
“Actually, passing out is pretty rare,” Simmons said. “[The blood drive has] a different sample population, but it’s not as scary as you think.”
For those who are nervous, volunteers such as Alaina Porth, junior in psychology, are there to help community members through their first experience.
“I would rather donate blood than get a shot,” Proth said. “You kind of have to take a step back when you’re donating and think who is the one person that, if something happened, they needed your blood.”
Porth, Simmons and Recker have dedicated themselves to educating others on what it means to donate and the process of donating.
“I thought it was something so cool that was so selfless that I could be a part of,” Porth said. “We are doing so much and helping so many people.”
Recker encourages people to take part, even if health issues don’t allow them to donate. Students can apply to be volunteers for the upcoming semesters by reaching out to any of the committee members.
“To be a part of it now … it kind of means a lot to me because I know I’m paying that gift forward,” Recker said. “I’m hopefully helping some other kid live a good life or someone have more time with a family member who’s sick.”
