Over 300 donors work together to donate 465 units of blood
In the spirit of friendly competition, Sandia and Los Alamos national laboratories faced off last month to collect the most blood donations in honor of World Blood Day. Following Sandia’s victory last year, when it topped the leaderboard with 183 units of blood compared to Los Alamos’ 180, staff from both labs turned up the heat. This year, Sandia collected 250 units of blood, and Los Alamos a total of 215 units, showcasing the dedication of both labs to this vital cause.
This year, both labs registered 86 first-time donors to participate in the event. In total, 378 donors took part, surpassing last year’s turnout by 38 and marking the largest participation in the history of the competition. From these donors, a total of 465 units of blood were collected, exceeding last year’s total by 102 units.
At Sandia, one exceptional donor stood out: Jeanette Burmester, who has donated an impressive 28 gallons of blood throughout her life. She joined Labs Director Laura McGill as they gave blood in support of Sandia’s mission to give back to the community and save lives.
“Wow, what an incredible outcome. I want to extend a heartfelt thanks on behalf of Community Involvement to everyone for collaborating to achieve such amazing results that will positively impact our community,” Lorena Esparza Aguirre, Sandia blood drive team member wrote. “This success reflects Sandia’s culture of giving and commitment to making a difference.”
The annual competition between the two labs continues to strengthen the mission of giving back to the community while fostering a spirit of collaboration and camaraderie. Each year, the labs strive to boost donor participation and exceed the previous year’s number of blood donations, increasing their positive impact on the community.
Although the blood drive competition occurs only in June, Sandia hosts blood drives twice a month, providing every employee with the opportunity to donate. Upcoming blood drive dates are announced in the Sandia Daily News.