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Couple Travels U.S. To Educate on Blood Donations
Written by
Lesly C. Simmons
, Staff Writer, RedCross.org
Tuesday, May 10, 2005 — A dedicated husband and wife team have traveled the United States for more than a year on a unique mission to donate blood in each of the 36 American Red Cross blood services regions across the country.
Jim and Linda Parker of McPherson, Kansas, have donated blood for decades—Linda began in 1991, and Jim goes back to 1976. They began their nationwide donation project in 2004 as a way to educate the public on the importance of blood donations, and to help those who need blood donations on a regular basis.
“A lot of things brought this together,” said Jim Parker of the project. “We both had the time, we were both long time blood donors, and we were also giving platelets.”
Jim and Linda Parker made this donation in Birmingham, Al. They will end their year-long odyssey to give blood across the country in August. (Photo courtesy Linda Parker.) |
Jim said the couple also heeded a call by American Red Cross President & CEO Marty Evans for greater preparedness for disaster nationwide, including keeping more blood on the shelves. The couple realized it would take a unique path of action to entice the media, and the public, to realize the true importance of blood donations.
“What we found out is that people don’t donate because no one has asked them to,” said Linda. “People hear about a blood drive on TV or the radio, but it’s not personal. So we are going all over the U.S. and inviting them, on a one to one basis, to come out and donate.”
Jim researched the possibility of making a donation in each of the Red Cross Blood Services Regions, and they began their odyssey in March 2004. They plan to make their last donation under the project on August 1 in Baltimore, but Linda said they will continue to donate just as they always have when they get back home.
The couple both donates platelets, which can be done every two weeks, versus whole blood donations which can only be done every 56 days. So far Jim has given 19 gallons, and Linda is up to 10 gallons.
“Giving blood is really one of the most self-gratifying things you can possibly do,” Linda said. “And if we can go across the nation, you can certainly go to your local blood bank to donate.”
In addition to being loyal blood donors, the Parkers are also active disaster volunteers for the Red Cross. In 2004 they spent 15 days driving an emergency response vehicle (ERV) in Nebraska following a rash of tornadoes, and 22 days in Florida assisting with hurricane relief efforts.
In 2004 the Parkers were named Volunteers of the Year by the Sunflower Chapter of the Red Cross in their home state of Kansas.
The American Red Cross provides nearly half of the nation's blood supply (collecting more than 6 million units a year from volunteer donors) to patients in 3,000 hospitals across the country through its national network. Every two seconds, someone in America needs blood. The Red Cross must collect blood donations each and every day to meet the needs of accident victims, cancer patients and children with blood disorders, and the organization works to accomplish this through its 36 Blood Services regions. Please call today to make your appointment to give the gift of life. Call 1-800-GIVE-LIFE to schedule your donation or to sponsor a blood drive.
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