Back to home
Blood Centers
Local High School Students Tip the Scales with Blood Donations
Nancy Hendrick will tell you that the No. 1 reason people do not donate
blood is because they have not been asked. Nancy, who is the Lee Memorial
Blood Center community relations coordinator, also will tell you to “consider
yourself asked.”
Asking is exactly what Nancy and her team do on a daily basis. Almost
every weekday, they travel to area high schools in the health system’s two
Bloodmobiles. High school students, along with
teachers and staff, donated more than 10,368 pints of
blood during the 2010-2011 school year.
One of the most common answers students gave when
asked why they chose to become blood donors is, “My
parents donate blood.”
Toria Lesley, an 18-year-old senior at Fort Myers High
School, was unable to donate on her two previous
attempts. Once she was below the weight limit of 115
pounds, and another time her iron level was too low.
Finally, in November, she was able to donate blood for
the first time.
“I was excited to finally donate, because now I could say, ‘I did it!’” Toria says.
“I’ll definitely donate at the next blood drive.”
Bronson Janey, another 18-year-old Fort Myers High School senior, donated
blood for the fifth time in November. He began donating as soon as he was
old enough—16 years old—and likes knowing he is helping others.
“It doesn’t hurt and it doesn’t take long, so why wouldn’t you donate?”
Bronson says. “I would give blood to help anyone—even a total stranger.”
If the idea of saving as many as three lives with every pint of blood isn’t
enough to convince them to donate, Nancy says students get out of class for
about an hour, and receive free juice and snacks after they donate.
For more information about donating or scheduling the Bloodmobile at your
location, please call 239-343-2333.
spacer
