Blood
‘Thank goodness for strangers:’ VT man who needed blood urges donations at annual event
Nov
Community members around Vermont’s Rutland County are getting ready for the twentieth anniversary of the Gift of Life Marathon, a series of four blood drives in Rutland and Castleton.A Rutland man who was recently on the receiving end of donated blood is using his personal story to help drive interest in the marathon, hoping hundreds of folks will support the effort this year.Alex Adams, a member of the Rutland Board of Aldermen who works at Green Mountain Power, suffered a series of heart attacks in February and had several blood clots. He told NBC5 News his doctors believe the problems were linked to a viral infection that weakened his heart.”They rushed me to UVM and said I needed a stent immediately,” Adams recalled, adding that he also needed blood transfusions to reduce how hard his heart had to work until it was strong enough to beat on its own. Because of his appreciation for blood donations, Adams is serving this year as the ambassador for the Gift of Life Marathon, helping promote the four-day collection drive in Rutland County. The event comes at a crucial time of year, because the American Red Cross says weather, seasonal illnesses, and holiday plans tend to decrease the turnout of blood donors.”Blood isn’t just for blood loss victims,” Adams noted in an interview Monday with NBC5 News. “It’s needed for all sorts of procedures, operations, and people like me. So thank goodness for strangers who made the choice to give.”Steve Costello helps organize the tradition, which is 20 years old this year. “You will leave knowing you helped save the life of someone like Alex,” Costello said.According to the American Red Cross, every two seconds, someone in the U.S. needs blood. Costello emphasized that means our neighbors surely benefit from efforts like the Gift of Life Marathon. “Putting a face on it has really helped people understand this is real,” Costello said, referencing several Rutland County residents he knows who have needed blood transfusions, including Adams. “This is real people, really affecting their lives in a super positive way. What could be better than that?”This year’s Gift of Life Marathon ambassador noted he still faces some medical procedures, but said he is feeling great and is glad to be back to working out again. He told NBC5 News he hopes people who hear his story will be motivated to register to give blood.”I think for that person sitting at home, I’d say, ‘Please just do what you can to help people like me.'”The 2023 Gift of Life Marathon will be held December 5, 7, 13, and 15. The first event is at the president’s house at Vermont State University’s Castleton campus. The second is at Rutland High School, and the final two are at the Rutland Elks Lodge #345.To register to donate blood for the Gift of Life Marathon, visit the website of the American Red Cross or call 1-800-RED-CROSS. If you’re outside of the Rutland area or cannot attend the dates of the Gift of Life Marathon, other dates and locations for blood donation can be found on RedCrossBlood.org.The Gift of Life Marathon is famous for setting a record for the largest single-day blood collection in the country in 2013, when it had a different format. This year, Costello said the event hopes to see 500 or more people register for blood donation slots.
Community members around Vermont’s Rutland County are getting ready for the twentieth anniversary of the Gift of Life Marathon, a series of four blood drives in Rutland and Castleton.
A Rutland man who was recently on the receiving end of donated blood is using his personal story to help drive interest in the marathon, hoping hundreds of folks will support the effort this year.
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Alex Adams, a member of the Rutland Board of Aldermen who works at Green Mountain Power, suffered a series of heart attacks in February and had several blood clots. He told NBC5 News his doctors believe the problems were linked to a viral infection that weakened his heart.
“They rushed me to UVM and said I needed a stent immediately,” Adams recalled, adding that he also needed blood transfusions to reduce how hard his heart had to work until it was strong enough to beat on its own.
Because of his appreciation for blood donations, Adams is serving this year as the ambassador for the Gift of Life Marathon, helping promote the four-day collection drive in Rutland County. The event comes at a crucial time of year, because the American Red Cross says weather, seasonal illnesses, and holiday plans tend to decrease the turnout of blood donors.
“Blood isn’t just for blood loss victims,” Adams noted in an interview Monday with NBC5 News. “It’s needed for all sorts of procedures, operations, and people like me. So thank goodness for strangers who made the choice to give.”
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Steve Costello helps organize the tradition, which is 20 years old this year.
“You will leave knowing you helped save the life of someone like Alex,” Costello said.
According to the American Red Cross, every two seconds, someone in the U.S. needs blood. Costello emphasized that means our neighbors surely benefit from efforts like the Gift of Life Marathon.
“Putting a face on it has really helped people understand this is real,” Costello said, referencing several Rutland County residents he knows who have needed blood transfusions, including Adams. “This is real people, really affecting their lives in a super positive way. What could be better than that?”
This year’s Gift of Life Marathon ambassador noted he still faces some medical procedures, but said he is feeling great and is glad to be back to working out again. He told NBC5 News he hopes people who hear his story will be motivated to register to give blood.
“I think for that person sitting at home, I’d say, ‘Please just do what you can to help people like me.'”
The 2023 Gift of Life Marathon will be held December 5, 7, 13, and 15. The first event is at the president’s house at Vermont State University’s Castleton campus. The second is at Rutland High School, and the final two are at the Rutland Elks Lodge #345.
To register to donate blood for the Gift of Life Marathon, visit the website of the American Red Cross or call 1-800-RED-CROSS. If you’re outside of the Rutland area or cannot attend the dates of the Gift of Life Marathon, other dates and locations for blood donation can be found on RedCrossBlood.org.
The Gift of Life Marathon is famous for setting a record for the largest single-day blood collection in the country in 2013, when it had a different format. This year, Costello said the event hopes to see 500 or more people register for blood donation slots.
