Fire department seeks blood for Santa Claus

BEEKMAN – Longtime Beekman resident Edwin “Eddie” Vazquez and life member of the Beekman Fire Department (BFD) has been stricken with cancer and his fire department is asking for the community for lifesaving assistance.  A blood drive in Eddie’s name is taking place at the BFD on July 25, 2023.  The BFD, located at 316 Beekman-Poughquag Road in Poughquag will be accepting donors between 1:30 pm. and 7:30 p.m. Appointments for donations can be made by clicking here.

Vazquez, an architect by trade, was diagnosed with metastatic esophageal cancer in September of 2020, according to his daughter Angelina Bueti. He began chemotherapy and radiation treatments at Memorial Sloan Kettering shortly after the diagnosis.  Since that time he has undergone several surgeries and received countless blood transfusions, his daughter said, while making a plea for blood donors.  “Our family extends a heartfelt ‘thank you’ to those who have and continue to donate, and are asking for those who are able to donate, to please show up and give blood.”

Bueti says her father has “continuously given back to the community throughout his life,” including coaching little league teams, serving as a Boy Scout Leader, volunteering for the Beekman Rescue Squad, serving as an EMT, and teaching CPR classes.  She also boasts that her dad is “one of the greatest Santas this town has ever seen.”  Vazquez plays the role of Santa during the fire department’s annual Santa Runs in town, which is a role he truly enjoys.   “He’s a Santa Run legend around here and I think he enjoys it just as much as the children do,” said blood drive organizer and BFD member Megan Bender.

The organizer has hosted several blood drives in the past but says this one is different.  “You don’t realize the value of blood drives until someone you know needs transfusions, then it becomes an immeasurable need and we need everyone to help,” adding  “Eddie does so much for the community and now we need the community to come together, and make a truly lifesaving donation.”

Bender cited the urgency for blood donations, especially during the summer months when more accidents and injuries occur.  “Every two seconds someone needs blood,” she said.  Working with the New York Blood Center for donation events, she says that a typical blood donation is collected as “whole blood” that is separated into different components: red cells, plasma, and platelets. Each component has its own lifesaving benefits. “This blood drive will also feature a machine that takes double red cell donations through a special automated process called apheresis,” Bender declared.  The machine collects red cells by spinning the blood during the donation and safely returns your platelets and plasma with saline solution. “You actually feel better after a double red cell donation than a whole blood donation.”  Joining Bueti in the plea for donors, Bender stated that “There is no substitute for blood because it can’t be made synthetically, that’s why we need donations and help people like Ed.”