Kelley Becker, an employee of Valero Renewables, has recently reached a milestone when it comes to donating blood. Becker has donated 21 gallons, a feat not many people meet.
Dustin McKean, lead Health, Safety and Environmental Specialist at Valero, said the company began sponsoring the Welcome community blood drive in 2016. Prior to that, there was no community blood drive in Welcome. McKean said they hold it three times a year in partnership with St. Paul’s United Church of Christ.
The blood drive happened Monday of this week and while he doesn’t have numbers yet, McKean said they typically get about 40 to 45 donors.
A regular donor himself, McKean said they encourage employees to donate or volunteer at the drive, but a good amount of the Welcome community shows up as well.
Becker said his first time donating blood was while he was attending college in Marshall, MN in the late 1970s. He admitted he was nervous to give his first donation.
After that, Becker said he spent about 20 years on the road for work and once the American Red Cross started putting information about blood drives online it became easy for him to find places to donate.
“I was traveling all over and if I knew there was going to be one in the area, it was easy and quick to stop and donate,” Becker said.
He has continued to donate whenever he can, which is every eight weeks. Becker shared he has O blood so he can also give double red every 16 weeks.
Becker has donated blood 167 times. Since each donation can potentially save more than one life, he’s likely helped hundreds. He estimates he’s donated in about 50 different places.
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