To the Editor:

I would like to extend a special thank you to the Fairmont community for its support of the blood drive held last week at the Holiday Inn. Thanks to the Sentinel and for its help communicating the details of the blood drive.

Did you know?

o Volunteer blood donors are the only source of blood and platelets for those in need of lifesaving transfusion.

o Only 38 percent of the population is eligible to donate blood, but only 8 percent of those who are eligible actually donate.

o Blood is needed for a variety of reasons. Accident and burn victims; heart surgery patients; organ transplant patients; and those receiving treatment for leukemia, cancer and sickle cell disease all need blood. We could not carry out our life-saving mission without the help of the donors who regularly come to donate at the Fairmont blood drive.

Results of the blood drive are as follows: Tuesday, Sept. 15, 124 units collected with a goal of 121 units; Wednesday, Sept. 16, 97 units collected with a goal of 106 units; and Thursday, Sept. 17, 48 units collected with a goal of 49 units.

In total, 269 units were collected on the goal of 276. There were four first-time donors.

Special thank you to all the volunteers:

o John McDonald and Kyle Redenius with the Sentence to Serve Troops.

o Local Boy Scouts who distributed posters and publicity around Fairmont.

o Current and new volunteers working in the canteen and greeter area of blood drive.

o Bruce Peters for his continued support with radio advertisements.

o And always, Holiday Inn for the fine facilities and great staff, especially Lacey McNicol for her assistance.

The Red Cross is a not-for-profit organization that depends on volunteers and the generosity of the American public to perform its mission. For more information on volunteering at the blood drive, please call Cathy Stapel at (507) 381-2066 or e-mail your interest to: Catherine.Stapel@redcross.org

Cathy Stapel, account manager

American Red Cross

St. Paul