By Carl Manning
American Red Cross

When Jaime Chailland helped organize the first Red Cross blood drive on the University of Missouri campus four decades ago as a student, he had no idea it would grow as big as it has.

This year, the Red Cross again partnered with Mizzou for their annual Homecoming Blood Drive, which collected over 4,740 units of blood over the weeklong blood drive, which started on Monday, October 9 in Columbia, Mo.

“Each year, I am impressed by the efforts the students, faculty, alumni, and Columbia community put forth for this lifesaving event,” said Rebecca Gordon, Executive Director, Red Cross of Central and Northern Missouri. “We are proud to be a part of Mizzou Homecoming festivities and look forward to another successful Homecoming Blood Drive, collecting blood donations for those in need.”

This year marked the 40th year for the drive. Chris Hrouda, President of Red Cross Biomedical Services, is a graduate of the University of Missouri, and visited the drive Monday. He said it’s not only the largest Red Cross collegiate drive in the country, but that the four-day event results in more units collected at the drive than at any other Red Cross blood drive in the U.S. This year’s goal is more than 4,000 units.

Jaime, a business executive in Marthasville, MO, was a Mizzou senior when he decided to start a blood drive on campus. With the help of a few friends, he got several campus organizations to participate, and it grew from there.

“I had received blood back then and it’s something I wanted to do to give back to the community…and it beat picking up trash on the Quad,” Jaime said. “To me, it’s all about giving back to the community.”

Looking around to the blood donation operation set up in the Field House, Jaime said, “You know, it’s not every day you can start a tradition like this. This is really incredible.”

The first day of donations was marked by a ceremonial ribbon cutting that included 12-year-old Hunter Simmons, whose leukemia has been in remission for a year. Hunter said he received 10 blood transfusions while battling the disease.

“It makes me happy to know that other people like me can be helped with their diagnosis,” he said. “It makes me feel kind of proud that people donate blood.”

His father, Brad Simmons of Columbia, stood smiling and listening as his son talked.

“My son being in remission is really a cause for celebration,” he said. “It has been a great gift for us so anything we can do to spread the word about the need to donate blood is something we will do.”

Thomas Carter, IV, was diagnosed with Sickle Cell Disease when he was an infant and requires a blood exchange each month to replace his blood and help him live with much less pain. He is 34 now, but he said his doctors didn’t think he would live past 20.

“I’m amazed by the number of people coming out to donate,” Carter said. “It’s cool to see everyone here and know I’m not the only one who needs blood. It makes me feel good. It’s healing a lot of people.”

The Red Cross national blood supply dropped by about 25 percent since early August, as donor turnout fell following an active hurricane season, coupled with one of the busiest travel seasons and back to school activities. People need to donate as soon as possible to ensure patients across the country continue to receive critical medical care,

The actual donation time for a pint of blood takes approximately 10 minutes and the entire process lasts about an hour, including answering a questionnaire, along with getting water or juice and a snack for replenishment after donating.

Many of those who signed up at the Field House were Mizzou students, like Simon Hodzic, a freshman who started donating when he was in high school in St. Louis.

His fraternity is among the campus organizations competing to see which one can donate the most, but that’s not his only reason for him being there.

“Whenever there is an opportunity to donate, I want to do that. It’s a very easy way to give back because as a college student, it’s hard to donate money,” he said.

Nearby, Tori Hudgens of St. Joseph, MO is another student who showed up to give blood, filling in for a friend who wasn’t able to donate.

“If you can donate, you really should because people in hospitals really need blood and I really want to help,” she said.

While most of those donating were Mizzou students, many people from surrounding communities took the opportunity to do their part, like Lori Imhoff who drove from Boonville.

“It’s the right thing to do and if I don’t do it, then who will?” Lori said as she finished her donation.
 

Schedule an appointment to give blood or platelets now by using the Red Cross Blood Donor App, visiting RedCrossBlood.org or calling 1-800-RED CROSS (1-800-733-2767).