Blood Drives Honor Memory Of Pulse Nightclub Victims

CLEARWATER, FL — As the one-year anniversary of the Pulse nightclub massacre nears, the Tampa Bay area is gearing up to honor the lives lost by helping save others. OneBlood, the region’s primary supplier of blood products, has announced several upcoming drives. The mayors of Clearwater and Tampa have already signed up for one.

“The need for a ready blood supply was never so apparent as it was on June 12, 2016, when the Pulse nightclub tragedy unfolded in Orlando,” an email from OneBlood explained. “Many of the victims rushed to the hospital that fateful night required lifesaving blood transfusions.”

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In the wake of the tragedy, OneBlood said thousands of people turned out to help by donating blood. As the anniversary nears, the organization is hoping to remind residents “that blood is needed every day.”

OneBlood has teamed up with several organizations to play host to Remembrance Blood Drives in the days leading up to and immediately after the anniversary. Those drives are set as follows:

• Friday, June 9 – Tampa Bay Rays, 1 Tropicana Drive, St. Petersburg, from 4:30 to 9 p.m.
• Saturday, June 10 – Tampa Bay Rays, 1 Tropicana Drive, St. Petersburg, from noon until 7 p.m.
• Monday, June 12 – iHeart Radio Media Group, 4002 Gandy Blvd., Tampa, from 6:45 a.m. to 8 p.m.
• Tuesday, June 13 – Cox Media Group, 10490 Gandy Blvd., St. Petersburg, from 2 to 7 p.m.

Donors will receive a “Still Strong, Still United, Still One” T-shirt. Donors must be in generally good health and age 16 or older. They must also weigh 110 pounds at least and must present photo ID.

Mayors George Cretekos and Bob Buckhorn are taking part in a special blood drive in honor of the anniversary. The two plan to give blood at the Kennedy Donor Center, 4041 W. Kennedy Blvd., from 9 to 10 a.m. on June 12. Both mayors also gave blood in the wake of the tragedy.

"Mayor Buckhorn and I donated blood last year in support of the Pulse victims," Cretekos told Patch. "He and I also supported OneBlood's 'Give Just Once More' campaign earlier this year, and in an effort to encourage residents who can donate to do so and in remembrance of those who were killed and injured during the attack at the Pulse night club, we will be at the Kennedy Boulevard Blood Center to donate on Monday morning, the first anniversary of the Pulse attack."

Cretekos is an avid donor. He's up to more than 54 gallons and is a volunteer courier for the national marrow donor transplant program, as well.

The Pulse nightclub was thrust into the international spotlight when Omar Mateen, 29, walked into the packed establishment in the early morning hours of June 12 and opened fire. Forty-nine people were killed and more than 50 others wounded before Mateen was shot and killed by law enforcement, ending the rampage.

The federal government has described Mateen’s assault on the nightclub as an act of terror. Mateen placed 911 calls during the attack pledging his support of the Islamic State.

As the anniversary of that tragic day nears, friends, family and survivors are sharing their memories. To hear their stories, watch the video below:

To find out more about the blood drives in honor of the Pulse victims, visit OneBlood online.

Photo courtesy of the Orlando Police Department