News Release January 16, 2007

Longtime Blood Donor Reaches 50-gallon Milestone

Ned Habich set to give 400th pint of blood Friday, Jan. 19

For more information contact:
Julie Scott 303.361.2873
Bonfils Blood Center

GOLDEN, Colo. (January 16, 2007) - For nearly 45 years, Ned Habich has supported his community by giving blood. Now this devoted blood donor will give his 400th unit of blood Friday, Jan. 19 at 9:45 a.m. at Bonfils Blood Center’s Denver West Community Donor Center located at 13952 Denver West Parkway, Building 53, Suite 335 in Golden.

At the urging of his mother, Habich’s blood donation career began in 1963 during his high school years in Miami, Ariz. where he donated at the blood drive that came through town three to four times a year – a blood drive for which his mother volunteered. Habich continued his blood donation habit even as he moved around the West. When Habich moved to Colorado in 1990 he began donating with Bonfils Blood Center. That same year he became a platelet donor and currently donates every two weeks.

When asked why he continues to donate after all these years Habich said, “I always felt a need to do something for the community. It feels good to know that you can help save a person’s life.”

Habich is the second Denver West donor to reach the 50-gallon milestone in as many months. At the conclusion of his Jan. 19 donation, he will join only eight other Bonfils’ 50-gallon donors.

In addition to celebrating Habich’s landmark, Bonfils also recognizes National Blood Donor Month – a month to both raise awareness about the importance of blood donation and to thank blood donors for their selfless contributions to the community. 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 through 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.