The drive today at the Sacramento Police Department was really fantastic!  We got so much support organizing the drive from the Sacramento Police Department, Officers Give Hope and Blood Source that everything was all set up when we arrived.  Lt. Jackie Whiteley from Officers Give Hope helped us set up the location with Sacramento PD.  Officers Give Hope do marrow drives throughout California and helped us set up Sacramento, Fremont, La Palma and San Diego drive locations.   The drive was really well promoted throughout Sacramento PD and surrounding areas by Capt. Dan Schiele and their media department.  Jose Sais from the Sacramento chapter of the National Latino Peace Officers Association came to the drive to meet Pat and presented him with a donation for Driving For Donors from fundraisers he has been doing!

 

We had 282 new donors join the Registry in Sacramento for a new total of 2799!  The day was filled with surprises as well!  We had the opportunity to meet several parents of children who had been ill.  Some were doing well after finding a matching donor and receiving a transplant, but unfortunately not everyone was able to find their match.  We met Angela Kott, the mother of baby Trevor who passed away several months ago at the age of 6 months.  Trevor’s family was able to add over 9000 donors to the Registry in a few short months in the hopes of finding a match for Trevor.  Even though baby Trevor lost his battle with Leukemia, others are being saved from their efforts.  Thats what we hope for everyday.  If our efforts save just 1 life, this drive is worth it!

 

We also had a visit from the mascot of the Stockton Thunder hockey team.  Pat challenged him to a game of hockey!  After that the kids got a tour of the police gym and played wall ball all afternoon.  

 

Now we are off to Lake Tahoe (fires are out) for a few days rest.  Pat, his dad and Jess are heading to Napa and we will meet up in San Francisco in a few days!

 

Next drive is Fremont, near San Francisco, on July 6th.