#WYBleed? (Won’t You Bleed?)

                                       #WYBleed? (Won’t You Bleed?)

Like all things F3, the F3Nation blood drive started with a guy asking a guy “Will you help me with this?” Van Winkle (VW) had the idea and EH’d Do Re Mi (DRM) to help him organize an F3 blood drive in Charlotte Metro. We get to collaborate on something new and challenging while helping others. Maybe even save a life.

The Thang:

VW took the lead and contacted the Red Cross. Due to Covid, the Red Cross facility and bus could not be used so we ended up doing the drive at DRM’s office. VW utilized the existing Red Cross sign up tools to recruit the pax. On the day of the drive the Red Cross rolled in at 8:30 am with their A team setting up tables and beds. At 10 am we have pax making the first donations. Grizzly, F3Merto N’antan, one of the first donors decides that we need to have some friendly competition. Out comes the “white board” and now it’s a contest to see who can post the quickest time to donate one pint of blood. Donation time is automatically measured and documented with the Red Cross equipment. By 2 pm we completed 32 donations for total of 34 pints (two Power Red donors). Everything was cleaned up and gone before 3 pm. For the record DRM posted a 3:25 to smoke the competition.

Naked Man Moleskin:

The Second F impact of the event was never considered. Sparty stayed all day just to be cordial. Hallpass and Marv brought their Ms. Topedo ran a 10k in the am and donated 2 pints of Power Red around 1 pm. We learned how to use scanning thermometers. We caught up with pax we had not seen in a while. Great fun watching people get stuck.

When DRM signed on with VW to organize the F3 metro blood drive, he did not plan on giving blood. He had never done it and did not see a reason to start at this stage of his life. No fear of needles, just not his thing. In the first week of the drive the signup sheet was a little slow to fill. Something kept gnawing at DRM. His failure to fully commit, to set aside any fears and donate did not align with his request for others to do it. As leaders we need to step up, we need to be the example. Donating was rewarding and record setting for DRM. #WYStepUp?

The Metro drive was a success in every way. We quickly found out that other regions were also holding blood drives with great outcomes. Seeing this commitment and success VW pushed for a national drive to align with F3’s 10 year anniversary.

We are now asking the pax of F3Nation to step up on a national level. If you are able, take the lead and organize a blood drive. Contact your local Red Cross or click the link.  https://www.f3metro.com/freedtobleed/  Or find a blood drive near you and donate. We may be crazy to think that the F3 pax can donate 10,000 pints for the F3 Nation 10 year anniversary. That is a very lofty goal. But you can be assured that the blood you donate will have an impact in someone’s life. Thanks.

#WYBleed?