Dear editor,
With the weather warm upon us, family travel and college and high school schools out on vacation, the need for blood is critically low – but the Gift-of-Life Mini Marathon Blood Drive is fast approaching.
The annual summer blood drive, the offspring of Rutland’s national-record-setting Gift-of-Life Marathon, is set for July 19 from noon to 6 p.m. at the College of St. Joseph. By participating, you can help save a life – and ensure blood supplies are available to accident victims, cancer and surgery patients and newborns and new mothers.
Rutland City resident Summer Stoutes donated a kidney to Rutland Town resident Brent Garrow in April. Together, they are asking all of their friends, families and supporters to participate in the Mini Marathon.
As Summer Stoutes recently said, “Each donation means life, or a better life, for someone who needs it.”
Brent said he would be forever thankful for Stoutes’ gift and the opportunity for a normal life that it provided – the same opportunity blood donors give the recipients of their blood donations.
Appointments are strongly suggested and may be made by calling 800-RED-CROSS or by visiting www.redcrossblood.org. Walk-ins will be accepted, but appointments help ensure a faster, smoother process.
Please join folks from WJJR-FM, Castleton University and Green Mountain Power as we work to save lives and build community July 19.
Steve Costello, Rutland Town. Co-organizer of the Gift-of-Life Mini Marathon Blood Drive.
