Ohio man has given blood in all 50 states (twice!), donates at Columbia’s Red Cross
COLUMBIA, SC (WOLO) — One Ohio man has made it his mission to donate blood in every state across America. Well, he’s now completed that goal — twice!
Alan Whitney calls this his third tour across America, having donated blood and/or platelets in every state, and even Australia and Canada.
And he keeps a good sense of humor along the way.
“Every state. Well two states I haven’t been in…I mean haven’t donated in…the state of confusion and the state of insanity. I’m in ’em all the time, ” he jokes.
Whitney says his journey began from a simple blood donation to the Red Cross years ago.
“Back in 1965, I donated, and when I walked out, I heard a voice say, ‘You can do more than this,’ and I started running blood drives, and it just progressed from there,” Whitney says.
For the next 35 years, Whitney says he ran blood drives all while keeping a full time job in manufacturing — with the last 15 years holding 56 blood drives a year…
“That’s better than one a week,” he says.
Earning him a very bloodthirsty nickname. “They call me Dracula,” he says while laughing.
Mario Jenkins is the Distribution Manager for the South Carolina region of Red Cross, making sure the state’s hospitals have what they need.
“We check our inventory, we have our department that gives us the amount of blood that we can send to those hospitals, and our job here is to make sure the blood is stored and shipped properly so we can make sure we get it to our patients safely, and make sure everything is done the way that it should be,” Jenkins says.
According to Jenkins and his team, red blood cells expire after around 43 days. Platelets expire after only five days — making Whitney and others donations that much more vital.
ABC Columbia’s Lee Williams asked Whitney if he’s ever met anyone who’s needed his blood.
“No, and it’s not necessary. I don’t need to know. I know they’re out there, and that’s what’s important. Somebody was able to take another breath. These platelets I’m giving today will probably go to a cancer patient,” he says.
Jenkins and Whitney encourage everyone to donate as often as possible.
“Give the gift of life,” says Jenkins.
“Actually when you’re donating blood, you’re not donating blood, you’re donating life. Patients need it to stay alive. Patients need it to stay alive. A father will be able to walk his daughter down the aisle. A mother will see her son graduate from college, and a young couple will be able to take their baby home from the hospital when people donate blood,” says Whitney.
The American Red Cross on 2751 Bull Street is open Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 4:30 pm. No appointment is necessary for blood or platelet donations.
