Mount Sinai Man Who Died In Motorcycle Crash Honored With Blood Drive

PORT JEFFERSON, NY — The New York Blood Center will host a blood drive Sunday from 1:30 to 6 p.m. in honor of a Mount Sinai native who died in a motorcycle accident last year.

The blood drive will be at the Mount Sinai Heritage Center, located at 633 Mount Sinai-Coram Road on the one year anniversary of Frank Shepard’s death.

On July 24, 2021, Shepard, 28, was driving a Ducati motorcycle when he struck a 2021 Volkswagen Atlas that was going eastbound on Fairview Avenue, and was later sent to Stony Brook University Hospital where he was pronounced dead, according to police.

A Suffolk County Police Department report said that 16 people motorcyclists died in 2021, and nine people have died in 2022 as of July 20.

Brittany Ahrem, Shepard's sister, and Kelsey Garceau, his best friend, put the blood drive together to celebrate the man’s life, Ahrem told Patch.

A decade earlier, Ahrem had also lost their brother, Sam, to a vehicle accident.

The event will include live music by Erik McCormick and Dan Donnelly, and food trucks from Vincents Pizza, Taco Island Tex Mex, Bubbles & Bowls, The Espresso Guys, For Goodness Cakes, and Grillin' Villian. The Southern viking brand, Y'Allhalla Clothing, will be there too, said Ahrem.

The NYBC is in dire need of new blood supply as the center has been experiencing a blood shortage. Donations are especially important during times when there is warmer weather because people are more likely to go on vacation, resulting in a lower supply and this year the supply has been critically low, said the center, which is taking extra precautions to help prevent the spread of Covid-19.

“A strong blood supply is essential in ensuring there is enough blood available in case of any type of emergency or accident, including motorcycle accidents,” Andrea Cefarelli, senior vice president at New York Blood Center told Patch via email. “We highly encourage all who are able to donate blood today, especially during the summer months when it can be even more difficult to turn out donors.”

As always, people are not eligible to donate if they’re experiencing a cold, sore throat, respiratory infection or flu-like symptoms. Additional information on donor eligibility and Covid-19 precautions is available here.