News Release May 17, 2005

Female Blood Donor to Give 400th Pint
Helen Wirsing becomes Bonfils Blood Center’s fifth 50-gallon donor

For more information contact:
Julie Wedding 303.361.2873
Bonfils Blood Center

DENVER (May 17, 2005)-

WHO: Bonfils Blood Center
WHAT: Helen Wirsing gives 400th unit of blood and becomes Bonfils’ first female 50-gallon blood donor.
WHEN: Tuesday, May 17 at noon
WHERE: Bonfils Blood Center, Lowry Community Donor Center, 717 Yosemite Street Denver, CO
PHOTO OPP.: Bonfils’ President and CEO will present Helen Wirsing with a diamond lapel pin at the conclusion of her donation at noon. Wirsing will be in the donation chair (accompanied by her husband) from approximately 10 to 11:30 a.m. and available for interview. A luncheon with family and friends will immediately follow the donation.
DETAILS: Helen Wirsing will become Bonfils’ first female 50-gallon blood donor May 17 when she donates her 400th unit. Only four other Bonfils Blood Center blood donors have reached the 50-gallon mark

Bonfils Blood Center President and CEO, William C. Dickey, M.D., will present Wirsing with a diamond lapel pin to commemorate her 50-gallon achievement following her donation. Bonfils will honor Wirsing with a small luncheon celebration to include her family and Bonfils staff she’s come to know over the years.

Wirsing, now a platelet donor, began donating blood in 1945 when her mother became ill and needed a blood transfusion. Since 1977, Wirsing’s husband and former blood donor, Fred, has kept her company during the automated platelet donations (a process that lasts longer than a whole blood donation) – by chatting or watching movies together. The couple considers their time spent together at the donor center as “going out on a date.”

“Donating blood is easy and it’s something I love to do. I’m tickled to help save lives,” Wirsing says of the experience.

Bonfils Blood Center supplies blood to more than 115 healthcare facilities and needs to collect 4,350 blood donations weekly to meet the needs of the community and to be prepared for any unexpected events. For information about scheduling a blood donation, please visit www.bonfils.org or call (303) 363-2300 or (800) 365.0006 option 2.