Eugene Gleitz, center, shortly after donating his 41st gallon of blood. On the left, Scott Chandler, American Red Cross, holds a certificate celebrating Eugene's milestone donation and Eugene's collection of blood donation pins.
The first time Eugene Gleitz donated blood in 1952, he had to have his mother agree to the donation on his behalf because he was a year younger than the age limit for donating blood at the time. That first act of kindness was the start of a lifetime of commitment to helping others.
Eugene recently celebrated two important milestones in September: His 92nd birthday and donating his 41st gallon of blood. That amounts to more than 320 blood donations over the course of more than 70 years of being a blood donor. He made his milestone 41st gallon donation at St. John’s Lutheran Church, surrounded by his family and the community he calls home in Lanesville, Indiana.
“I made a donation to a fellow with leukemia,” he said, when asked what’s kept him donating all these years. “He came up to me later, shook my hand and said ‘thank you for letting me live a little longer’. How could I quit after that?”
Every day, blood donors help patients of all ages: accident and burn victims, heart surgery and organ transplant patients, and those battling cancer. In fact, every two seconds, someone in the U.S. needs blood.
“I don’t do it for the attention,” said Eugene, “The need is there.” Eugene shared that he intends to keep donating as long as he is able.
Blood donors are needed every day to help provide lifesaving blood products to hospital patients in need. If you’re looking for a meaningful way to give back, schedule an appointment to donate blood. It could change someone’s life. Visit redcrossblood.org to make an appointment today.
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