Bernville resident Mark Reimert reached a historic, life-saving milestone when he achieved the 100-gallon donation level with Miller-Keystone Blood Center on March 27.
After making a blood and platelet donation at the Blood Center’s Reading Donor Center, Miller-Keystone Senior Director Michael McShane presented Reimert with an award.
“To see the dedication, the long life-time dedication that a donor puts in to get to this level is pretty monumental,” said McShane. “Without donors like Mark we wouldn’t be able to support the community. Of course, platelets is even more important because of their value and shorter shelf life. As a platelet donor myself, I know how important they are and how much time you have to dedicate to do that because it takes much longer to donate platelets… Mark has really dedicated a lot of time over his lifetime.”
A blood donor for more than 20 years, Reimert donates about every two weeks for a total of 24 times per year.
“I want to congratulate Mark on a big day. He does a lot for the Blood Center, in and out of that chair. We’re very fortunate to have him,” said McShane.
Reimert is also an employee of Miller-Keystone as a mobile unit associate at mobile blood drives.
Reimert believes he started donating blood in the late 1970s or early 1980s.
“If they would allow me to donate every week, I would,” he said. “I just feel proud that I can do this. I feel good, I really do. I feel proud (to have reached this 100-gallon milestone).”
What makes him want to donate so often is his desire to help people.
“The people that need blood, cancer patients, babies, everybody. I lost an uncle to cancer recently,” said Reimert. “It’s the only way I feel, the best way I feel that I can help my fellow man.”
He encourages others to donate blood and platelets.
“I would like to challenge anybody, especially the young people out there, to beat my 100 gallons. Donate as often as you can. It is needed,” said Reimert.
Debra Nalbandian, Miller-Keystone manager, telerecruitment, expressing her sincere gratitude for Reimert’s 100-gallon donation.
“What he has done is absolutely amazing,” said Nalbandian. “It’s quite an accomplishment, 100 gallons. He has saved hundreds of lives since he started (donating).”
She recognized Reimert for being a dedicated platelet donor.
“The platelets are greatly needed,” said Nalbandian. “Platelets are always needed because they only have a shelf life of five days. Therefore, we need to have a constant stream of platelet donors. And it’s very difficult to keep motivating people to come in and donate platelets. He does it regularly and that’s a wonderful thing.”
According to the Miller-Keystone Blood Center, “Platelets are cells in the blood that help control bleeding and bruising. Platelets activate a substance in plasma which form a clot and allow a wound to heal. Since platelets help control bleeding, they are very important for cancer patients, heart surgery patients, accident and burn victims, premature infants, organ transplant patients, and bone marrow transplant patients.”
“I hope people are inspired to come in and donate,” said Nalbandian. “It’s a process that a lot of people don’t understand and we would love to educate people on it. We have plenty of people who can explain the process.”
Whole blood donation takes about 15 minutes while donating platelets could take between an hour to two hours.
“It’s not painful; it’s relaxing and the best part is you get a great feeling. You know you’re helping people, especially cancer patients; they’re the number one user of platelets,” said Nalbandian. “And it stays within the community.”
Miller-Keystone blood donations go to many local hospitals in Lehigh and Berks counties, including Reading Health System, Lehigh Valley Health Network, and St. Luke’s.
“I encourage people to come out and donate,” said Nalbandian.
For more information about the Miller-Keystone Blood Center, visit www.giveapint.org or call 800-B-A-DONOR.
