SPECIAL FEATURE
8TH ANNUAL CORPUSCLE SHUFFLE 5K
![SPECIAL FEATURE: CORPUSCLE SHUFFLE 5K]()
Our 8th Annual Corpuscle Shuffle, held last weekend in Davenport, had a record turnout, great weather, and lots of smile throughout the day. We saw 211 finishers in the 5K and 1-mile events -- our first time over 200 -- and the women's 5K winner was our own Rose Szczurek, Reference Lab Tech.
Special thanks to more than 20 volunteers who helped with everything from stuffing race packets to setting cones on the course, and inflating our start / finish line arch. All of the effort goes to help fund the LifeSavings grants we provide to K-12 schools that host blood drives with ImpactLife. After expenses, sponsorships and race registration are expected to raise more than $25,000 to support the next generation of blood donors.
Now we can roll up the streets and put away the race cones for another year. But you can save the date for the 9th Annual race on Saturday, October 2, 2027!
Good Giving in Action
Blood donors are putting good into the world in more ways than one! Through our Good Giving program, generous donors can choose to pay forward their donor appreciation gifts to nonprofit organizations making a difference in our communities.
Recently, we got to celebrate that generosity with check presentations to some of our nonprofit partners. Because of blood donors, we were able to give $33,140 to local pet shelters and food banks. Every dollar donated shows the generosity of blood donors and how they turn their lifesaving gift into even more good.
Giving Back Is In Our Blood
Our donor relations team in the eastern region rolled up their sleeves for a different kind of giving! They joined United Way of Central Illinois for a Day of Action at Mini O'Beirne Crisis Nursery.
On August 16, 2026, a tree split in half and fell, damaging the nursery's playground and backyard. The buildings had only minor damage. The playground lost two pieces of play equipment, one of them less than three months old. The tree has since been removed, but there was still plenty of cleanup to do.
Our team pitched in to help rehabilitate the playground and tidy up around the whole house, so the children who visit can get back to safe, happy play.
We Should All Smile Like Zoey
October 5th will always be a hard day for Zoey's family. It would have been her 14th birthday, but she lost her battle with leukemia in 2024. Her family turned their love for Zoey into an opportunity to help others, especially other kids fighting cancer.
That's why her family hosts a blood drive every year, keeping Zoey's smile alive. This year, 29 community members smiled and rolled up their sleeve to make sure kids like Zoey have access to the lifesaving medicine they need. Each donation can help patients face their most difficult moments, and each donor who showed up made sure Zoey's memory continues to make a difference.
Portage Continues to Grow Readiness for Emergencies
The fantastic team at Portage Fire Rescue received their first unit of blood for the department's pre-hospital transfusion program just a few weeks back and they've already held their first blood drive!
The Portage Fire and Police Departments held their annual community open house yesterday and added a blood drive this year to help support our region's blood supply. The 37th Annual Fire Prevention and Crime Prevention Open House featured appearances by police and fire mascots, "Sparky" and "Sergeant Blue," as well as fire sprinkler demonstrations, bratwurst and hot dogs (of course!) and the opportunity to view police and fire equipment up close.
Jake Hicks, Account Manager, worked with Assistant Chief of EMS Cody Doucette to fill the schedule for the first time blood drive, and donors had the opportunity to learn about the lifesaving difference blood donations can make in the pre-hospital setting. We look forward to growing our presence in Portage and the surrounding region.
Leaders For Life In Action
Every great community is built by people who show up for one another. At Springfield Southeast High School, these future Leaders for Life showed us some amazing #'s worth highlighting:
- 46 donors registered
- 35 units of blood collected
- 28 first-time donors
- 35+ students enrolled in the Student Impact Award
Over 35 students are also participating in the ImpactLife Student Impact Award, which recognizes sustained service and leadership with a graduation cord. These students are building habits that will help keep our communities healthy for years to come. The future looks bright for these future leaders!