By: Isabel Anderson, Regional Communications Manager

As he holds back tears, David Schapiro, a long time platelet donor, explains “my slogan has always been ‘Because I can’, it’s as simple as that.'”

David first started donating whole blood when he was 18 while serving in the Navy, but since then, he’s shifted to donating platelets. On Saturday August 9th, he donated his 100th gallon of blood products.

David explains, “if you were to take a 100-gallon fish tank and fill that up with with product, I mean, that’s a large fish tank”. This day was not only a celebration of David but also the difference he has made, “It’s not so much what I’ve given. It’s the fact that there are 400 people out there that it could have saved.”

So why does he do it? To David, it’s simple: “For any little inconvenience that you go through, the good feeling you have after is way better. For two-and-a-half hours of doing nothing, you can save a life and there’s no reason not to.”

When David first started donating, he didn’t know anyone who relied on these life-saving donations but now it’s become personal: David’s sister has been treated for breast cancer three times and relied on platelet donations. “It personalized it, it was nice to know that there are people out there who need it and I could put a face behind it”. With the tie to family, his tradition quickly became a family affair. While his kids lived nearby, the family of four would take up four beds donating power reds, whole blood and platelets.

To celebrate this huge accomplishment, David baked a cake adorned with the American Red Cross logo for the crew of Beaverton phlebotomists. Little did he know, the phlebotomists also got him a cake! It was certainly a very sweet day to say the least!

David encourages you to donate blood and make a difference.

Visit RedCrossBlood.org to book your appointment and start making your way towards 100 gallons!