Blood Bank of Delmarva recognized 35 high schools in New Castle and Cecil Counties for their lifesaving contributions to the 2007-2008 School Blood Drive Program Oct. 22.
The Blood Bank held a luncheon at Cranston Heights Fire Hall for the schools, where students contributed 2,690 units of blood last year. Thanks to schools across the Peninsula, a record total of 6,684 donations were collected at 115 school blood drives from September 2007 to May 2008.
Several schools took top honors for the largest number of blood donors.
The following schools took top honors for the largest number of blood donors:
Cecil County
First Place—Bohemia Manor High School- 149 donors
Second Place—Rising Sun High School- 117 donors
Third Place—North East High School- 60 donors
New Castle County
Small schools (less than 100 in senior class):
First Place—Cab Calloway School of the Arts- 51 donors
Second Place—Ursuline Academy- 50 donors
Third Place—Tower Hill School- 48 donors
Mid-size schools (between 101-239 students in senior class):
First Place—TIE: Archmere Academy and St. Elizabeth High School- 71 donors
Second Place—Hodgson Vocational Technical High School- 64 donors
Third Place—Delaware Military Academy- 61 donors
Large schools (between 240-299 students in senior class):
First Place—Charter School of Wilmington- 122 donors
Second Place—Christiana High School- 84 donors
Third Place—Salesianum- 81 donors
Extra-large schools (more than 300 students in senior class):
First Place—William Penn High School- 239 donors
Second Place—Delcastle Technical High School- 206 donors
Third Place—St. Mark’s High School- 165 donors.
The other participating schools in New Castle and Cecil Counties include: Red Lion Christian Academy- 15 donors; West Nottingham Academy- 26 donors; Wilmington Friends School- 31 donors; Wilmington Christian School- 36 donors; Caravel Academy- 39 donors; Padua Academy- 44 donors; Cecil County School of Technology- 45 donors; St. Andrew’s School- 47 donors; John Dickinson High School- 52 donors; Howard High School- 53 donors; Perryville High School- 56 donors; Thomas McKean High School- 58 donors; Mt. Pleasant High School- 61 donors; Newark High School- 68 donors; Alexis I. duPont High School- 76 donors; Concord High School- 78 donors; Glasgow High School- 84 donors; Brandywine High School- 108 donors; and Middletown High School- 145 donors.
“The goal is to attract the most donors – and save lives. William Penn had more blood donors last year than any other high school on Delmarva, and they continue to impress us with their enthusiasm,” said Lauren Bacon, Blood Bank school blood drive coordinator. “The competition has been one of the most effective tools we have to attract young people to give blood, and in our eyes all the schools are winners.”
Tuesday Shannon of Newark and her 2-year-old son, John, were at the luncheon to share their amazing story about his need for blood. John has Diamond Blackfan Anemia (DBA), a rare disease that prevents red blood cells from being produced in the bone marrow. He relies on blood transfusions to survive and has had more than 40 to date.
“Doctors tell me there are only 700 people in the world with DBA. The only cure for the need for regular blood transfusions with the disease is a stem cell transplant,” Tuesday said. “A transplant is a possibility in the upcoming five years, but until then, John is able to live his life because of blood donors. I’m really excited to speak with the student donors and thank them.”
