Family encourages blood donations in Rutland man’s memory
The family of Pete Giancola, a well-known local musician, is urging the greater-Rutland community to donate blood in his memory at the 2020 Mini Gift-of-Life Marathon (GOLM) blood drive. Giancola died in March after a 10-year battle with cancer, and relied on hundreds of blood donors who improved his quality of life and helped him survive much longer than his doctors expected.
This donation drive is their way to give back to others.
The Mini GOLM, sponsored by Catamount Radio and Green Mountain Power and dedicated to Giancola’s memory, will be held July 14 from 12-6 p.m. at the Holiday Inn in Rutland Town. Due to Covid-19, the American Red Cross is taking special precautions to protect donors and staff, practice social distancing, and ensure a safe blood supply. Appointments are strongly encouraged.
“When my dad received a blood donation, you could see an immediate change in him,” his daughter, Gabriella Giancola, said. “His cheeks would get their color back and his energy level would increase. It was like watching a miracle happen right before your eyes. During those 10 years he fought for his life, my family thought often of those donors and how grateful we were and are to them.”
“Before Peter got sick, he gave blood as often as he could,” his brother David said. “He was so generous, he would do anything he could to help others. During his treatment for brain cancer, he received hundreds of units of blood and platelets, and because of all those generous donors who made time to share their good health, our family had 10 years that we might not otherwise have had.”
When Pete Giancola died in March at the age of 53, his family asked friends to donate to the Foley Cancer Center and to donate blood rather than send flowers. Shortly thereafter, organizers began planning to make the Mini GOLM a tribute to Giancola, who was also a dedicated father to his four children.
Terry Jaye, program manager at Catamount Radio and a bandmate with Giancola, said he was the glue that kept band members together.
“Pete was an incredible sax player, but he always made sure everyone in the band got a chance to shine,” Jaye said. “He was as generous with his bandmates as he was in the community, where he and his family contributed to various events and charities quietly but enthusiastically. He made the community better in the same way he made his bands better.”
GMP’s Steve Costello, co-organizer of the Mini GOLM with Jaye, said making the event a tribute to Giancola was a natural. “When someone like Pete dies, we often struggle with how we can honor them in a meaningful way,” Costello said. “For the hundreds of people who mourn his loss, it’s simple: Give blood to honor him and the hundreds of people who assisted him over the course of his 10-year battle.”
The Mini GOLM goal is 224 pints, but there is room, even with social distancing, to handle well over 300 donors. Appointments are critical to reaching the goal.
The Mini Marathon is an offshoot of the national-record-setting Gift-of-Life Marathon. The GOLM began as an ordinary blood drive but over time grew into the largest blood drive in American history, setting the national record of 2,350 pints in one day in 2013. The record still stands, and the American Red Cross has stopped doing one-day marathon drives, so the record is likely to stand for some time.
Organizers encourage everyone to consider joining in the effort during the Mini GOLM July 14, 12-6 p.m. at the Holiday Inn, South Route 7 in Rutland Town. For more information visit redcrossblood.org or call 800-RED-CROSS.
