Greenville, Pennsylvania (Wkbn– Venton Smith gave his compatriot in Pennsylvania’s first blood donation at the Comodor Perry Secondary School in Mercer Province, Pennsylvania. Now, his next donation will complete a trip through America.
Smith has pictures of himself throughout the United States outside the American Red Cross offices. The journey began in 1988. For 20 years, he was blooded in Pennsylvania, New York and Maryland, but Smith started a travel job in 2008 and had to set an appointment in new places.
“Then, by the time when I reached the twenty -fifth state, when I started sharing the story with others, my family and others. I kept it calm because I thought, this is a kind of crazy goal,” Smith said.
He made her interesting while his sleeves rolled 139 times. He donated in Portland, Maine and then one in Portland, Oregon. The state was 49 for Smith Alaska. On Tuesday, he leaves to Hawaii, and the 50th state in the donation destination list.
“This is not a completion of a trip. This is a milestone on a life journey to give blood,” he said.
The desire for giving came from the family dynasty. Smith’s mother and Abha were regular blood donors. A 54 -year -old girl calls him to be useful and rewarding that his story can inspire others.
“I really think about these people I have never met. I don’t know who they are. Maybe it will never meet them, but their lives extend and fill moments in their lives that would have been lost forever.”
Twelve members of the Smith family go to Hawaii with him, including his mother. Some of them will donate blood, too, in the fifty state. Smith hopes that others will feel the importance of being a regular donor.
“I can’t think about one thing that the individual can do has a greater effect on someone else not simply taking a few minutes to give blood.”
Vinton Smith donates about 30 gallons of blood. He also donates platelets, and he did so recently in Nevada, and his twenty -fifth term. He wants to go to 50 states in platelet donations. Smith plans to continue donating blood as well.