Competing for a noble cause
Published 8:14 am Thursday, April 11, 2019
The Red Cross truck and van in front of 400 High St. made the blood drive venue tough to miss.
High Bridge Trail Conservation Officer Daniel Jordan is watching intently as nurse Sherri Hill preps his skin, but Dan takes his donation in stride.
Farmville Firefighters and Red Cross Nurses take a break just long enough to pose for a photo. From left, back row, Travis Finch, Dan Pempel, Cameron Walker, Will Glaveskas, Ronald Schult; front row, LaTeia Rivers, Samina Khan, Betty Augustin, Yvette Perrin, Brittney Boger, Kayla Moore, Carson Rubin and kneeling Ernest Ross.
“Rain or Shine, the show must go on.” The weather did little to dampen the spirits of the members of either department during their friendly annual competition Pictured are, from left, Farmville Fire Chief, Dean Famer; Farmville Firefighter, Julie Bailey; Farmville Police Department Sargent, David Ragland; Farmville Fire Department Parliamentarian, Ernest Ross; Farmville Police Detective, Sam Entriken and Farmville Police Department Detective, Albert Bappert.
The Ninth Annual Heartland Heroes Blood Drive, was held Friday, April 5, at the Johns Memorial Parish House in Farmville. The annual blood drive, known as the Battle of the Badges, is a good natured competition between Farmville’s police and fire departments to recruit as many blood donations from visitors in honor of one or the other departments. When the drive is over, the results are tallied and a winner is named.
The 2019 event netted 42 units of blood and the Farmville Fire Department was named the winner.
The winner also has the honor of keeping the Heartland Heroes Blood Drive Trophy for one year.
Members of both departments, and donors as well, turned out in good numbers despite less than favorable weather conditions in an effort to contribute to the Red Cross blood drive.
According to a press release from the Farmville Police Department, “The 2019 Heartland Heroes Blood Drive winner was the Farmville Fire Department. The two departments combined recruitment efforts netted 42 units of blood. These 42 donations have the potential to save 126 lives.”
The release went on to say, “The Farmville Police Department and the Farmville Fire Department wish to thank Johns Memorial Episcopal Church for their assistance in making the blood drive a success. We especially thank those who took time from their schedules and donated blood.”
