“Big Deal” Blood Drive

Blood Donations In Honor Of Joan Deal

Dozens donate blood in honor of one woman with terminal pancreatic cancer. Flint Group brought the United Blood Services truck to their site Wednesday in honor of its former employee Joan Deal.

It was called the “Big Deal” Blood Drive because of Deal’s recognizable license plate that reads “BIG DEAL.”

She was diagnosed in November of 2014 and requires two blood transfusions per day. United Blood Services says there is a growing need for blood donations, not only for Deal, but for patients of all ages and conditions across the region.

“We support 92 hospitals in northwest Minnesota, all of North Dakota, northern South Dakota and supporting those 92 hospitals means we have to find 500 donors everyday to support our area hospitals,” says Tim Tollefson of United Blood Services.

The blood drive also coincides with the American Heart Association’s American heart month.