The Catskill Chronicle

MONTICELLO, NY (January 28, 2013) – One hundred three precious pints of blood were collected on Thursday, January 24 at the 7th Annual Thunder Blood Bowl held at the Hype Night Club of Monticello Casino and Raceway.

This year’s Blood Bowl, was once again hosted by Catskill Regional Medical Center and radio station Thunder 102, and sponsored by Coombe and Bender Financial Planning and Investment Management. The event ran from 1:00 – 7:00 pm, bringing in hundreds of people, some of whom had made reservations, and others who were walk-ins.

Natural disasters such as hurricanes and floods, and other tragedies such as fires and car accidents mean that blood supplies always need to be replenished, and a donation of one pint of blood can save up to three lives.

Traffic was steady at the Blood Bowl despite the blistering cold and wind.

Jack Costello of Jeffersonville (photo left) tries to donate every 56 days – the point at which follow-up donations are possible. Costello donates at the Thunder Blood Bowl every year and also at his local firehouse and whenever he can find a blood drive. He said that when he’s on Long Island he donates platelets. After his donation, Costello enjoyed some hot coffee and “delicious cookies, and delicious cupcakes from Edible Art by Erin.” He said the whole process took about 42 minutes.

And John Desrochers of Liberty(photo right), tries to get out every year for the Thunder Blood Bowl. “When my wife and I were having our first son, he was a little stubborn coming out, and she needed some blood in the O.R. so I find it important enough that she gave her blood, and so I can give mine.”

Thunder 102 air personalities on hand for the entire day were Mike Sakell of “Sakell in the Afternoon” and Michelle Semerano co-host of “Ciliberto and Friends,” with mid-day host Jason Dole and Paul Ciliberto, host of “Ciliberto and Friends” rounding out the on-air crew.

Every hour, Thunder 102 radio gave away prize bags stuffed with t-shirts, CDs, coffee mugs and more. Vivian Hanslmaier of Swan Lake (photo below left) was the winner of the very first prize bag given away.

At the 2013 Thunder Blood Bowl, there were 13 first-time donors, one of whom was Thunder 102’s mid-day air personality Jason Dole (photo right), who was actually on the air as he was donating.

There were also several people hooked up to two special “ALYX” machines. The machines, according to Rosemary Steuber, Blood Bank Supervisor at CRMC, are also called Double Red Cell Collectors, separate whole blood into red blood cells and plasma, returning the whole blood and plasma to the donor. Restrictions apply for height, weight, and amount of hemoglobin. After this type of donation, you may not donate again for 16 weeks and the best donors for this have either type O-negative or O-positive.

For more information about how and where to donate blood click on this link American Red Cross Blood Donation.