Sandia takes on Los Alamos in friendly competition
SAVING LIVES — Office Administrative Assistant Zuzana Patterson, center, donates blood at a recent Sandia blood drive. “I donate blood because it is a life-giving substance. It only costs me a little bit of time, but it may give someone a lifetime that they would otherwise not have the luxury of having,” Zuzana said. “It is a small way that I can help others.” (Photo by Craig Fritz)
The Community Involvement teams at Sandia and Los Alamos national laboratories have organized a friendly blood donation competition in honor of World Blood Donor Day on June 14. The laboratory that collects the most units of blood in June will win.
Sandia Community Involvement manager Amy Tapia encourages employees to see the value in giving blood and help with recent blood shortages across New Mexico. “We make it convenient to donate blood with bimonthly drives. Last year, 1,011 employees gave 1,220 units of blood, which could potentially impact 3,360 lives,” Amy said.
Donors that participate in the challenge will receive a CoLABorating for our Community T-shirt and will be entered to win one of two $10,000 prepaid gift cards from Vitalant. Both laboratories have two scheduled blood drives this month with equal appointment availability. Sandia will host blood drives on Tuesday, June 13, in the IPOC Supplier Lobby and Tuesday, June 27, at the Steve Schiff Auditorium.
GENERATIONS OF GIVING BACK — Office Administrative Assistant Janet Laros, left, with her mother, since deceased, daughter and granddaughter said she gives blood every eight weeks. “My mother taught me early on to help whenever needed and to take care of people who need help,” said Janet, who has the universal donor typ O-negative blood. “My life has been one of service. Blood donations are really needed in an emergency. It doesn’t take much time, it’s free and you get snacks.” (Photo courtesy of Janet Laros)
40 YEARS OF HELPING OTHERS — Electrical engineer Greg Haschke donates blood frequently. “Donating blood is a unique opportunity in technological age,” Greg said. “All the modern medical technology has not yet devised a way to manufacture a substitute for human blood that provides the gift of life to so many in need.” Greg first donated blood while attending Texas A&M University about 40 years ago. “The ease of access near campus and some peer pressure in my dorm got me started. The convenience of donating on-site at Sandia really fueled my passion,” he said. Greg has the lofty goal of becoming a 20-gallon lifetime donor and keeps meticulous donation records. When he started at Sandia in 1987, Greg had donated 21 units. (Photo courtesy of Greg Haschke)
