Mike Barney joined the Coralville police force in 2000. He had donated blood in previous communities where he lived and began to donate at the City of Coralville Blood Drives held twice a year.

When he was involved in a motorcycle/car accident on October 10, 2005, Mike became one of the millions of people who every year requires a blood transfusion. The motor cycle he was driving was hit head-on by a car. During his stay in the hospital Mike underwent numerous surgeries and required a total of 22 units of packed red blood cells and four units of plasma. 

Mike says, “I always thought donating blood was a good thing to do, and I was so glad it was there when I needed it. Now I feel I need to pass that on to someone else.”

Officer Barney is passing it on by organizing the next blood drive at the City of Coralville. After his accident, his friends at the City of Coralville and Coralville Police Department organized an additional blood drive on Barney's behalf.  Fifty-seven of Mike's friends came to roll up their sleeves. Twenty-one of those were first time donors who became more aware of how important it is to have those blood products available.

You never know when a loved one will need them.