Special events target blood donors during holiday season

Blood drives that were started in the past two years are helping address a need during the season of giving when people are stretched in so many directions they might think they don’t have time to donate blood.

The Charlie Bonnici Memorial Community Blood Drive last weekend at the Rampart Casino kicked off the special events supporting United Blood Services, which with the American Red Cross makes sure the supply is available for patients needing blood in Southern Nevada.

On Wednesday, University Medical Center, a hotbed of activity any day, will become even busier when three agencies come together for the second year of the Heroes Challenge, a friendly competition among UMC, the Metropolitan Police Department and the Clark County Fire Department to see which group can mobilize the most donors to their cause.

The two drives, which organizers plan to make annual events, join the 13 Bloody Days of Christmas, the effort by the comedy team of Penn &Teller, now in its 14th year. If all three efforts reach their goals, the amount of the collected life-giving fluid could reach 2,800 units, which might sound like a lot but actually would cover the need in Southern Nevada for about two weeks.

Blood banks historically run low between Thanksgiving and New Year’s Day because demand can increase and supply can decrease as people get caught up in the hustle and bustle of the holidays.

“We’re busy,” said Julie Brehm, Nevada district manager for donor recruitment for the American Red Cross. “We’re busy with parties, with Christmas shopping, with visiting friends and family.”

People also take part in other charitable events this time of year, helping with food and toy drives, and there are limits to what they’re able to do, said Paul Milakeve, donations coordinator for United Blood Services. That’s why the three drives can be so valuable in reminding people to give blood and making donation more convenient, Milakeve said.

Blood donation advocates say the holiday season should be the perfect time to give blood.

“You’re giving a gift that’s never going to be returned,” Brehm said. “You’re giving a gift that’s exactly the right size. You’re giving the gift of life.”

“You can feel the goodness of what you’re giving as you donate,” Penn Jillette said.

More than 200 units were collected last weekend at the Rampart, and the success of the event in memory of the late Bonnici shows just how beneficial such drives can be. Although most of the people who attended were regular blood donors, the drive’s publicity attracted Jose Salazar, Jose Cordero and Richard Lehman, three men who probably would have been missed.

Salazar, a 44-year-old immigrant from Guatemala who works for Henderson Harley-Davidson, was giving blood for the second time, the first being an event through his job. Salazar gave because he heard an ad on Spanish-language radio and the Rampart is near his home.

Cordero, a 53-year-old plumber who immigrated from El Salvador 11 years ago, was donating blood for the first time, making him a prized target of blood drives.

“As an immigrant, I saw the opportunity and wanted to give back,” Cordero said. “Since I came to this country, I have looked for chances to reach out and help.”

With blood type O negative, Lehman, 33, is considered the universal donor. Although no blood transfusion is without risk, anyone can be given type O negative blood without risking a transfusion reaction. Lehman first gave blood in his early 20s, and the UNLV nuclear engineering student gets frequent calls from United Blood Services.

Lehman also was motivated to act last weekend because of the convenience and publicity of the Bonnici drive, but he acknowledged he didn’t need much encouragement.

“Since I’ve had a child, I’ve been more regular about giving blood,” said Lehman, whose son is 4. “You never know when a child, or even my own child, might need a transfusion.”

Bonnici’s kin started the drive in 2012, weeks after he died from complications with his cancer treatment, including surgery to remove a kidney. He required numerous transfusions, and he promised his caregivers and family he would find a way to return the kindness.

His brother Tony, general manager of Lotus Broadcasting, said Bonnici loved the holidays so it makes sense for the family to continue the blood drive on the weekend before Thanksgiving each year.

“If he had his way, if he had a choice, he would have wanted it to be during the holidays,” Tony Bonnici said.

The next holiday-related drive takes place from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Wednesday with the pride of UMC, police officers and firefighters on the line. Last year, UMC staff supporters outperformed the other groups in the first Heroes Challenge.

Lisa Gorlick, director of UMC’s laboratory services and overseer of its transfusion department, said the generosity of sponsors to provide gifts for blood donors has been overwhelming.

All donors will receive a gift bag including vouchers for two tickets to see the Australian Bee Gees, Recycled Percussion, Gordie Brown and “Ja-Makin-Me-Laugh,” and drawings will take place hourly for gift cards, dinners and show tickets. The day culminates with a grand prize drawing for a $1,000 Visa gift card and the crowning of the new champion.

Potential donors can make an appointment to donate Wednesday at unitedbloodservices.org, and anyone can drop in to give blood without an appointment.

The 13 Bloody Days of Christmas begin Dec. 19 when Jillette and Teller make their annual appearance at the United Blood Services location on Charleston Boulevard near Tenaya Way. Over the years, thousands of people have seen the duo’s show for free since Jillette promised off the cuff into a camera in 2000 that anyone who donated blood could have free tickets.

Donating blood was a family tradition for Jillette growing up in Massachusetts, and he gave “the first day I was old enough to donate.”

Giving blood is a more gratifying act of charity because of the real-feel aspect of the experience. He said first-time donors have nothing to fear because the process will go more smoothly than one might expect.

“The amount of pain and the amount of discomfort, I always find a disappointment,” he said.

Contact Steven Moore at 702-380-4563 or smoore@reviewjournal.com.