Jordan Opp | University Communication and <a href="https://bitcomme.com/lead-velocity-warns-firms-on-cyber-risks-in-marketing-tools/” title=”Lead Velocity warns firms on cyber risks in marketing tools”>Marketing
Jordan Opp | University Communication and Marketing
Interim Chancellor Katherine S. Ankerson speaks inside the Wick Alumni Center during an Oct. 19 news conference.
Lincoln Mayor Leirion Gaylor Baird encouraged all Lincoln community members, and residents across the state, to roll up their sleeves Oct. 20 for We Give Blood Day.
The mayor signed a proclamation declaring Oct. 20 as We Give Blood Day in Lincoln during an Oct. 19 news conference at the Wick Alumni Center. Interim Chancellor Katherine S. Ankerson led the remarks, followed by the mayor, representatives from both the American Red Cross and Nebraska Community Blood Bank, and Kendra Ritchie, director of recruitment in the College of Business, who shared her story as a blood recipient.
The proclamation coincides with the University of Nebraska–Lincoln’s effort to win the We Give Blood challenge, a competition sponsored by Abbott and the Big Ten Conference. Nebraska is currently trailing the University of Wisconsin and needs about 300 donations per day to close the gap before the competition closes Dec. 4.
“(Our donations) are there for a patient in surgery, for a newborn or for a family on the worst day of their entire life,” Ankerson said. “It’s there because someone, days earlier, decided to roll up a sleeve. Most of us will never meet the person our donation helps. That’s what makes it such a pure act of service.”
Faculty, staff and the public can donate blood on campus through a blood drive 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Oct. 20 on the Nebraska Union’s Memorial Plaza. Sign up for an appointment online. Donations at any blood drive or donor center across the United States can be logged for the competition at http://bigten.org/abbott or by texting GIVEBLOOD to 222688 (ABBOTT).
Each donation can save up to three lives. For Ritchie, it took three blood transfusions following the birth of her daughter to save hers.
“I am forever indebted to the people I will never meet — the individuals who donated blood to save my life,” she said. “I don’t know their names, and I honestly don’t know why they chose to donate. Maybe giving blood was something they planned weeks in advance, or maybe they just happened to notice a local blood drive and decided to stop by. Whatever brought them to the doors that day, I’m grateful for their selflessness. Because of their decision to give blood, I’m alive today. Because of them, I got to go home and raise my baby; and because of them, I recently had the privilege of watching my daughter turn 6.”
Ritchie said she is no longer able to donate but advocates for others to make a life-saving gift.
“You may never hear their story, but somewhere a family got to have another birthday, another holiday, a hug or even another year together, just because you took those few moments to give,” she said. “I know because my family did. Thanks for giving the gift of life.”
