At 2:30 p.m. on the first day of the ISU Blood Drive there were around 230-250 donations, while the hope was to reach 350 donations by the end of the day.

Donations from faculty, students and even the ISU Police Department helped fulfill the goal of seeing involvement throughout the entire campus.

“As a volunteer, even if you can’t donate, you’re still being a part of helping out the community,” said Mark Vormezeele, executive of volunteers and junior in agronomy. “It’s cool to be a part of an organization where you can actually have an impact on someone’s life.”

Cassidy Glynn, sophomore in apparel, merchandising and design, is a student who was once in desperate need of these donations.

Only a few months ago, Glynn was diagnosed with E. coli and had to have her blood drawn at least seven times a day.

“I was getting blood tests so often because my red blood count and platelets were very low and at a dangerous level,” Glynn said. “If I had not received the blood transfusions, there was potential for me to get kidney dialysis.”

Glynn was later diagnosed with hemolytic-uremic syndrome, which is a disease that destroys red blood cells.

“Blood transfusions saved my life, prevented me from having kidney failure and let me get released from the hospital after two weeks rather than five,” Glynn said. 

Derick Mauser, donor and senior in architecture, talked about why he thinks it’s important for students to donate.

“I’ve had a lot of family that have needed blood,” Mauser said. “I think it’s important that they’re able to have access to that when needed without any issues.”

Glynn explains that the donors may not realize it but what they’re doing by donating is a gift to many people in need. Her life was saved simply with one donation.

“It makes me happy seeing Iowa State students donating blood,” Glynn said. “I think about the patients I met while I was in the hospital and how cool it is that a student could be saving their life without even knowing it.

The blood drive will be open from 10 a.m.-5 p.m. until Oct. 9 in the Great Hall of the Memorial Union. Students are encouraged to help participate in the nation’s second largest student-run blood drive. 

“The blood drive is truly an amazing thing, and I am proud to say that it saved my life,” Glynn said.