| Sharks Fans Make Blood Drive A Success SJSharks.com January 22, 2007 |
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| Scott Hannan and Patrick Marleau thank a dedicated Sharks fan for her time. |
| Hockey is a rough sport so it's common to see a little blood now and then, but it's usually from the players, not the fans. Not the case at HP Pavilion this past weekend, when the San Jose Sharks teamed up with Stanford Blood Center to host a blood drive prior to the home game on Saturday, Jan. 20 vs. the St. Louis Blues. "We've wanted to do this for sometime so we're very proud to partner with Stanford and save lives of those in the Bay Area," said Rob Jaynes, Director of Fan Development & The Sharks Foundation. The event was by appointment only and in the week prior, more than 100 Sharks Fans signed up to donate, potentially saving over 300 lives. Typically, each donated unit of blood, referred to as "whole blood," is separated into multiple components, such as red blood cells, plasma, and platelets. Each component is then transfused to a different individual with different needs. "In the Bay Area, only about two percent of eligible donors actually donate so we're always in a constant need for blood," said Elisa Manzanares of Stanford Blood Cente. "By working with the Sharks, we not only have the chance to collect blood but also to reach new donors and inform more people of the need to donate." Some in attendance were already keenly aware of the need and for them, the drive had special meaning. "Our son was diagnosed with Leukemia and he required many platelet and red blood cell transfusions, so we understand the importance of today," said Susan Richter, whose son was treated at Lucille Packard Children's Hospital, one of the locations Stanford supplies. "We just want people to know that you absolutely can save lives and there are definitely people out there who need it." To thank them for their contributions, each donor was invited to watch both the San Jose and St. Louis morning skates, which are usually closed to the public. They were also entered into a drawing to win autographed Sharks merchandise, which ranged from pucks to replica jerserys and even a stick signed by members of the team. Sharks Captain Patrick Marleau, Vesa Toskala, Mark Smith, Curtis Brown and many other players even came to the donation area after practice to personally thank everyone for their time. "I was a little nervous but it didn't hurt and it was actually really quick and easy," said Julie Fultz, a first-time donor."I was actually more excited and anxious about being here at the Shark tank and getting to see some of the players!" ABOUT THE STANFORD BLOOD CENTER Stanfor Blood Center is a private, nonprofit community agency that was established in 1978. It now has three donation sites located in Palo Alto and Mountain View. Each year it supplies more than 35,000 pints of blood components to help an estimated 105,000 patients. For more information, please visit http://bloodcenter.stanford.edu or schedule an appointment by calling (888) 723- 7831. |