I remember hearing a donor's story on the radio, probably NPR. He had just received a "50-gallon barrel" award from the center where he'd been donating. The idea was simple but stunning -- this guy had regularly donated enough blood to fill a 50 gallon barrel and this wasn't his first barrel. This meant decades of donating blood. It suddently occured to me that he had discovered an entirely natural, completely renewable resource over which he had complete control, and it's one that I possess as well. Blood.

If I never share my blood, I'll always have just enough. If I do share my blood, I'll always have just enough. For me, the choice to donate was made in the comparison of these two equations. As long as I do what I need to do to stay healthy, I can grow new blood and share it for as long as I live. And living is what people who need blood want to do.

Ever since I heard about the 50-gallon man I've tried to be a regular donor. I've taken a vacation or two from donating -- for a variety of reasons, but I've returned because I can. I want to be a 50-gallon man, too.

I continute to donate at the UI DeGowin Blood Center because I can and because the people I've met there are warm, friendly, and funny. And they're good at what they do.

It's a great feeling to have this valuable, renewable resource. Join me because you can.