The Community Blood Center of the Carolinas (CBCC) recently honored its top area blood drive hosts and donors from 2014 in the first of two appreciation banquets. More than 200 people attended the Charlotte event that was emceed by Kristen Miranda with WBTV and took place at Hilton Charlotte Center City. Other special guests included: Roman Harper (Panthers Safety), Dr. Ify Osunkwo (LCI Sickle Cell Program Medical Director), and local patient families.

CBCC acknowledged the commitment of blood drive hosts that held exceptional blood drives in 2014. Categories included the highest collecting blood drives in 2014, organizations that have hosted blood drives with CBCC since 2003, and first-year blood drive hosts who impacted the most lives through blood donation. Individual donors were also recognized for their exemplary service to the community.

Whole Blood Donors who gave blood seven times in one year:

Peggy Leroy – Charlotte; Mike Metz – Charlotte; Hugh Harkey – Charlotte; Linda Ware – Tega Cay; John Grosvenor – Mount Pleasant; Dave Oman – Kannapolis; and Kim Wyatt – Concord.

These donors collectively touched 147 local lives.

Sickle Cell Heroes:

David Neeley – Pineville; Gerald Terrell Jr. – Charlotte; William Ingram – Kannapolis; and Damian Henderson – Charlotte.

These donors gave six times each through either whole blood donation or a combination of whole blood and double red cell donation in direct support of local sickle cell patients.

Double Donor Heroes:

David Hanisch – Charlotte; Michael Pugh – Matthews; Michael Beauchemin – Matthews; Howard Aston – Charlotte; and Linda Lee – Rock Hill.

These donors gave seven units of blood each through a combination of whole blood and double red cell donation.

Most Impactful Platelet Donors from Charlotte Donation Center:

Mahlon Thomas – Charlotte; Jeff Brown – Charlotte; and Mike Long – Charlotte

Most Impactful Platelet Donors from Concord Donation Center:

Vaughn Combs – Kannapolis; Sandra Thomas – Harrisburg; Billy Staton – Concord; and Pat Cagle – Kannapolis.

These donors gave the highest number of platelet units or have the highest frequency of donation in 2014, spending a minimum of 40 hours each giving back through CBCC.

Andy Weiland of Indian Trail was recognized as the top blood donor of the year, accomplishing a record-setting eight units by combining whole blood and double red cell donations.

Don Brown of Charlotte was honored for being the top CBCC donor of all time, giving platelets 154 times from 2007 to the end of 2014.

“It is a tremendous honor to thank and recognize all of these businesses, organizations and donors for working together in the spirit of community to support local patients,” said Martin Grable, president and CEO of the Community Blood Center of the Carolinas. “Keeping blood donations local provides the blood our family, friends and neighbors need when battling cancer, sickle cell and other life-threatening illnesses. This appreciation banquet was our way of saying thank you for the altruistic people who are dedicated to helping us make a local difference.”