News Release May 08, 2006

Denver Man to Donate 50th Gallon of Blood May 15
Bonfils’ donor joins elite 50-gallon club

For more information contact:
Julie Scott 303.361.2873
Bonfils Blood Center

DENVER (May 08, 2006) - A local man, William Burnham will join Bonfils Blood Center’s elite 50-gallon club when he donates his 400th unit of blood at 9:50 a.m. on Monday, May 15 at the Lowry Community Donor Center located at 7901 Lowry Blvd. in Denver. Burnham will become Bonfils’ seventh donor to reach the landmark. To celebrate this milestone and to show appreciation for Burnham’s amazing contribution to the community, Bonfils Blood Center will hold a recognition reception for him immediately following his donation.

To reach 50-gallons, a donor must give 400 units of blood or blood products. Each donation can save or enhance the lives of up to three patients, so Burnham’s donations have had the potential to help 1,200 people through the years.

A loyal whole blood donor for years, Burnham decided to become a platelet donor in 1992 when Bonfils instituted apheresis donations at the center. Apheresis donations allow patients to donate platelets, plasma or red cells and are essential to allowing Bonfils to more precisely tailor the community blood supply to meet patients’ needs.

A whole blood donor can give blood six times a year. At this rate, it would take 50 years to donate 400 units. Platelet donors, like Burnham, are able to donate more frequently, every two weeks, so the milestone can be reached in just a few years. It can take up to two hours to donate platelets, so the time invested at each visit is greater. However, Bonfils has taken steps to ensure Trima donors are still “plugged in” and comfortable while they donate. In addition to offering blankets to our donors, Bonfils offers the iBed which allows donors to surf the Internet, check email, watch live television, listen to music or watch their favorite DVD from the Bonfils DVD library while saving lives.

For more than 60 years, Bonfils Blood Center has supported the community blood supply and has played an instrumental role in the lives of patients in need throughout Colorado and beyond. Bonfils Blood Center supplies blood to more than 200 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 Bonfils Blood Center, please visit www.bonfils.org or call 303.341.4000 or 800.365.0006.