WJZ & Red Cross Team Up For Blood Drive
TIMONIUM, Md. (WJZ) -- Every two seconds, someone in America will need a blood transfusion.
As Mike Schuh reports, the blood drive in Timonium sponsored by WJZ started strongly.
They're preparing to collect something so precious, it can only be made by the human body.
"That's why our tag line is, 'The need is constant.' We're constantly replenishing our supply every day," said Ray Charles, Chesapeake Red Cross.
People like Steven Lewis heard about the need for fresh blood and just walked in.
"We're all our brother's keepers. We all need to help one another," Lewis said.
Because some people are rejected, they need 250 people to show up to meet their goal of 216 units collected Saturday. That's 20 percent of what they need to send to hospitals Saturday, Sunday and every day.
"I have every good blood," said Julia Eason.
Eason's blood type is AB+ and it's in great demand.
"They tell me they can use it for almost anything, especially newborns," she said. "I'm fortunate to have good blood. Why can't I share it with someone who needs it?"
Bryan Boyle needed it, and a lot of it. He was an athlete at 18 but then a dump truck hit his car in southern Maryland. He needed blood or blood products over 50 times and his heart stopped eight times. Now he is a volunteer spokesman for the Red Cross. His story is now his full-time job. He's an inspirational public speaker who pinpoints when he knew he had to give back.
"I was in Baltimore at Kernan looking around in my wheelchair and said I could one day make a full recovery," he said.
He's since gone on to finish the Kona Iron Man.
The Red Cross says they have between 10 and 20 smaller blood drives every day. Click here for more information.
