Marshall Mayor honors MHS blood drive's 25th anniversary with proclamation

Danielle Dace, MHS human physiology teacher, holds a proclamation with Marshall Mayor Mark T. Gooden honoring the school's blood drive's 25th year anniversary.
(Carlos Restrepo/Democrat-News)

Mayor Mark T. Gooden signed a proclamation making March 6 the "Marshall High School 25th Annual Community Blood Drive Day" during an event Friday, Feb. 15, at Marshall High School's Little Theater.

The proclamation reads, in part, "A group of students have dedicated their time and effort in organizing an upcoming event, highlighting the Marshall High School 25th Annual Community Blood Drive..." which has "...in the past 25 years, donated 5,244 units of blood to the Community Blood Center..." and "the Mayor recognizes the constant need of blood for the continued health of the people of Marshall and surrounding areas via our hospitals, clinics and more and each unit of blood collected may save up to three local lives, actually improves the health of the donor, and strengthen the bond of the Community."

The blood drive, which will take place from 7 a.m. to 2 p.m. Wednesday, March 6, at the school, is organized by the MHS' human physiology class, as it has been in the past 25 years.

Danielle Dace, teacher of the class, said she was amazed with the effort and dedication her students put into making this event possible.

"I don't have students, I have young professionals," Dace said during the proclamation event.

Dace, who is a former MHS student, pulled up a photo that ran in the Marshall Democrat-News of her donating blood as a junior in high school.

MHS students of the human physiology class pose together with Mayor Mark T. Gooden and teacher Danielle Dace after the reading of the proclamation Friday, Feb. 15, at the MHS Little Theater.
(Carlos Restrepo/Democrat-News)

Ginger McGraw, the teacher who originally started the blood drive, said it was moving to see the event carried on throughout the years.

"It always makes me feel so good to see former MHS students donate blood," McGraw said. "I'm so excited Danielle and her students are continuing this tradition."

Dace said the blood drive's goal is to collect 250 units of blood, but said she hopes the community of Marshall comes together to donate even more.

"This is something we have been doing for a long time, something that's very near and dear to the community," Dace said.

All of the donations collected at the March 6 blood drive will remain local. Gooden said he hoped to see all of his staff and Marshall citizens contributing to the cause.

"You may be saving lives in the community," Gooden said. "This event is absolutely important."

Contact Carlos Restrepo at crestrepo@marshallnews.com

Source: http://www.marshallnews.com/story/1941629.html

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