‘Blood brothers’ of long-time Bloodworks donor step up to honor his memory

EUGENE, Ore. – Bloodworks Northwest’s Eugene donor center hosted a blood drive Wednesday in honor of one of its long-time donors who recently passed away.

The blood drive, held on November 8 outside the Lane County Health and Human Services building, established a goal of 100 units from the ‘blood brothers’ of long-time blood donor Patrick Kerr, organizers said. Friends of Kerr sought to exceed his own donations of 80 units over the years as a tribute to his commitment as a lifelong blood donor.

“Patrick was so well loved in the community, everyone who loved him or knew who he was called him PK,” said Mark Crossler, one of Kerr’s ‘blood brothers.’ “You know, he worked here at the Health center and a lot of people are providing blood for his donation or blood drive.”

Kerr worked for Lane County Health and Human Services focusing on COVID-19 relief as well as providing help for the homeless and also volunteered as a member of the Friends of Aubrey Park. Kerr’s family hopes to see the blood drive become an annual event in his memory.

Bloodworks Northwest officials said the need for blood donors is ongoing, especially with the approach of the holiday season as the need arises to raise the available blood supply from emergency and critically low levels. Presently, there’s a critical need for Type O Negative, which is the universal donor blood type that all blood recipients receive in an emergency if their blood type isn’t known.