Let the bloodletting begin: Rockport 125th kicks off with blood feud

Chris Wolf
Fri, 02/26/2016 - 2:30pm
An almost packed house at the Masonic Hall in Rockport, one of two sites for Thursday’s ‘blood feud’ blood donation competition between Camden and Rockport. (Photos by Chris Wolf)
Piet Lammert was first to give blood in Rockport.
Holly Edwards is all smiles. She doesn’t have a clue what’s coming.
Allyson Poutasse of Rockport.
Billy Smith
Tracy Murphy and Helen Shaw of Rockport.
Lynda Clancy
An easy pace all day at the First Congregational Church in Camden.

    ROCKPORT/CAMDEN — Thursday, Feb. 25, saw the start of celebrations for The Rockport Quasquicentennial, and the fun began with a “blood feud” between Camden and Rockport officiated by the American Red Cross. The Red Cross set up donation sites in both towns and it ended with a tally at the end of the day. And the winner is…

    In the early hours of the blood drive, which began on noon, it looked as though Rockport was ahead. Towns were given one point for a whole blood donor, but you could get two points if you went “double red.”

    Double red blood cell donation is a way to two units of red blood cells while returning your plasma and platelets to you. The two point scoring could give a town an edge.

    Rockport resident Piet Lammert said it was persistence that pulled off the blood drive.

    “I approached the committee with this idea when I found out the 125 was happening,” he said. “I’ve had the idea for a couple of years and this was the perfect opportunity to use it.”

    In his opinion, Lammert said part of the reason Rockport was doing better was because they offered cupcakes to those who donated.

    Results for Rockport:

    55 Presenting Donors
    • 47 Whole Blood Donors
    • 8 Double Red Donors.
    • Lost six donors; reasons remain private.

    Units collected:
    • 41 Whole Blood
    • 15 Double Red
    Total of 56 units were collected in Rockport

    Results for Camden:

    54 Presenting Donors
    • 49 Whole Blood Donors
    • 5 Double Red Donors
    • Lost four donors; reasons remain private.

    Units Collected:
    • 45 Whole Blood
    • 10 Double Red
    Total of 55 units in Camden

    However…

    Lammert said there could be mitigating circumstances that could alter the final tally.

    “I had two donors that had signed up for the drives – one from Camden, one from Rockport,” Lammert said in an email. “Both donated in January and I told them I would count their donation toward the drive.

    Lammert went on to say that the Camden donor donated double reds. When one does the math now, it comes up 57 units apiece and a tie between the two towns.

     Congratulations to everyone who participated, and to those who will be on the receiving end of the donated blood in the future.

     

    Reach Chris Wolf at news@penbaypilot.com.

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