News Release December 19, 2006

Blood Donor Makes Year-end Wish a Reality
Golden-area man to become 50-gallon donor Dec. 21

For more information contact:
Julie Scott 303.361.2873
Bonfils Blood Center

DENVER (December 19, 2006) - Golden resident Dennis “Denny” Dalpez made it a personal goal to become a 50-gallon blood donor by the end of 2006. Dalpez’s goal will become reality when he gives his 400th unit of blood Tuesday, Dec. 26 at 3 p.m. at Bonfils’ Denver West Community Donor Center located at 13952 Denver West Parkway, Building 53, Suite 335 in Golden, Colo.

Dalpez joins only seven other Bonfils donors who have attained the 50-gallon milestone and is the third Denver West Community Donor Center donor to hit the mark. Now a platelet donor, Dalpez’s began donating blood in Milwaukee in the 1970s. He continued donating whole blood after moving to Colorado but made the switch to platelet donations in 1991. A whole blood donor can give blood six times a year. At this rate, it would take more than 65 years to donate 400 units. Platelet donors are able to donate more frequently, every two weeks, so the milestone can be reached in just a few years. However, it can take up to two hours to donate platelets, so the time invested at each visit is greater.

Of his good deed, Dalpez says, “It’s a good community service and I know that it will go to somebody who needs it.”

Bonfils hopes others will adopt Dalpez’s sentiments about blood donation this holiday season by saving the date to save a life. Blood donations decline by as much as 20 percent during the holidays due to travel, adverse weather conditions and colds and flu. To thank those who take time out of their busy schedules to give blood between Dec. 17, 2006 and Jan. 27, 2007, Bonfils will give donors a 12-month wall calendar in appreciation of their donation. The 2007 Bonfils calendar – full of important life-saving dates like Donate Life Month and National Marrow Awareness Month – is a great tool to help donors plan a yearlong blood donation schedule.

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 scheduling a blood donation, please visit www.bonfils.org or call (303) 363-2300.