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Blessed Sacrament School in Madison recently held its second blood drive in honor of one of its students diagnosed with leukemia. Pictured from left are: Blessed Sacrament graduate and Red Cross volunteer Kevin Thomas, Blessed Sacrament student Nora Williamson, and Blessed Sacrament Principal Maryann Slater. (Contributed photo) |
MADISON — Blessed Sacrament School recently held a blood drive in honor of one of its students diagnosed with leukemia for a second time.
The first blood drive in honor of fourth-grader Nora Williamson was held in November of last year.
Former Blessed Sacrament student and current Edgewood High School student Kevin Thomas organized the blood drive.
Thomas has been volunteering with the Red Cross since he was 14. About a year ago, he met Nora and learned she had leukemia.
“I felt that I could do more to help given my experience with volunteering for the Red Cross. After talking to the coordinator at the Red Cross, I decided to organize a blood drive in her name at Blessed Sacrament School,” said Thomas.
Thomas says the blood drives were welcomed with overwhelming support form the community.
“The outpouring of support for one of our very own students was very touching and gratifying,” he said.
Thomas also organized a “One a week” donor club in the school and parish community. The group is made up of people who made a commitment, as a group, to give at least 52 pints of blood in each calendar year. So far, there are 84 members in the club and members have already has donated 49 pints of blood this year.