Mollie Mackinnon’s journey to give blood was a lesson in perseverance.

After two previous attempts were unsuccessful, Mackinnon willed her way to give blood for the first time at an American Red Cross blood drive held on the last Friday in September in the city where she lives.

Like others, Mackinnon had a fear of needles growing up, but she eventually overcame the phobia. Minor physical ailments prevented her from giving blood twice before in the last couple of years, including during a Red Cross shortage in 2022.

“I was proud of myself. I just tried to give myself the strength to do it,” said Mackinnon, a mother of two children, ages 2 and a half and 4. She said her husband, James, is a frequent blood donor.

Mackinnon’s donation came two months after the passing of her father, Charles. The heart-wrenching scenes in the hospital of a nurse rushing to bring blood products to her father who was experiencing complications from a fourth heart surgery are fixtures in her memory. It also had a profound impact.

“Giving blood is one of the most noble things you could do,” she said. “Unfortunately, it took experiencing losing a loved one in the hospital to really see how important it is.”

She added: “Doctors and nurses can’t do what they need to do (without blood donations). They can’t do their work without it.”

Her father passed away the day before Mackinnon’s birthday in June. She hopes her journey to give is an inspiration to others.

“It would make me happy if it motivated someone do it, or someone who was feeling uncomfortable or scared,” she said. “You really are giving back to your community when you give blood.”

People who give blood now through Nov. 9 will be automatically entered to win a $5,000 gift card as the Red Cross continues to work around the clock to help rebuild its blood supply. There will be three winners, one chosen at random each week during the three-week incentive. Donors will also receive a $10 gift card by email to a restaurant merchant of their choice. Learn more at RedCrossBlood.org/lunch.

By David Olejarz, Regional Communications Director