By Kelly Flynn, American Red Cross
Nancy Bragg has visited all seven continents and traveled to 80 countries, with plans to reach 100 by 2028. Yet some of her most meaningful journeys happen much closer to home.
Several mornings each week, Nancy loads blood products into a vehicle and heads out on delivery routes for the American Red Cross, helping ensure hospitals have the lifesaving blood and platelets patients need.
When asked to describe her role as a blood transportation specialist in three words, her answer is simple:
"Driver, helper, and contributor."
The role fits naturally with a life centered on service. In addition to volunteering with the Red Cross, Nancy is a seating bowl host for the Durham Bulls, coaches three Miracle League of the Triangle baseball teams and serves on the league's board of directors. No matter how busy her schedule becomes, she makes time to give back.
For Nancy, volunteering provides purpose, exercise and connection.
"I volunteer because I feel good about what I do, Nancy said. “I like getting out of the house, getting some exercise, interacting with people. For me, it's a great way to start my day."
After spending 26 years working in clinical research, Nancy was looking for a meaningful way to begin retirement. She joined the Red Cross shortly after and found a role that matched her interests and skills. Today, she helps deliver blood products to hospitals across the region, supporting patients who rely on a ready blood supply every day.
Nancy says the role requires practical skills, but also a focus on relationships.
"It's really someone who's outgoing, who is interested in meeting the people at the hospitals, putting a friendly face on your deliveries, being accommodating on where they want you to leave the boxes, how high to stack them."
In her view, volunteers who are adaptable and personable are a natural fit.
"So anyone who's friendly and flexible is going to be a good Red Cross volunteer."
For people who think they don't have enough time to volunteer, Nancy points to one of the program's biggest advantages: flexibility.
"With the Red Cross, it's nice because it's completely flexible. There's so many different options available for time that you can really look at your schedule. And if you've got an open slot, there's probably a Red Cross shift that you could take."
Nancy's connection to the Red Cross began long before she became a transportation specialist. She has donated blood since high school and later became a regular platelet donor after being encouraged to try it by the Red Cross. Today, she has donated more than 55 gallons.
Her experiences as both a donor and volunteer give her a unique perspective on the journey blood products take before reaching patients.
"There's been a couple of times that I've donated platelets, say on a Saturday, and then I've delivered platelets to Duke University on a Tuesday, and then I'll get an email saying, hey, your platelets went to Duke. I don't know for sure I delivered my own platelets, but I like the idea that I could have."
Volunteers like Nancy help ensure lifesaving blood products make it from donation centers to hospital patients. Their role is especially important because the need for blood is constant. Every two seconds, someone in the United States needs blood, and blood products have a limited shelf life. Transportation specialists help connect generous donors with patients by ensuring those products arrive where they are needed most.
Some of Nancy's most meaningful moments come from meeting people whose lives have been touched by blood donations.
"A lot of people will say, 'Oh, thank you for what you do,' which is nice."
Those conversations become especially powerful when someone shares a personal connection to the mission.
"They’ll say ‘my mom got platelets, or my son got platelets.’ When people have that personal experience of actually receiving and needing the products that we deliver, you just think a little bit more about how important it is, what we do, and that we do it well."
Outside of her volunteer service, Nancy stays busy pursuing another passion: travel.
"I'm trying to get to 100 countries."
She has already visited all seven continents and is currently at 80 countries. If all goes according to plan, she expects to reach her goal in 2028.
Wherever she travels, Nancy often finds herself looking for a familiar sight.
"I do look out for the other Red Crosses around the world because I do think that's fun to see."
Despite her global adventures, she remains deeply committed to her local community. Whether she's coaching baseball players, supporting fans at Durham Bulls games, donating platelets or delivering blood products to hospitals, Nancy demonstrates that service can be part of everyday life.
After all, while she's working toward visiting 100 countries, some of the journeys she values most are the ones that help connect blood donors to patients right here in North Carolina.
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