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As a part of Operation Pulse Life, the Civil Air Patrol Sugar Valley Squadron will sponsor a blood donation event on May 6.

As of April 1, the Civil Air Patrol’s Operation Pulse Lift (OPL) has raised nearly 20,500 units of blood correlating, according to the American Red Cross (ARC), with more than 60,000 lives saved.

“You can be a part of this excellent response to the ongoing and serious need for blood donations,” said Lt. Col. Stephen Leighton, the squadron’s health services officer.

Located at Sugar Valley Airport, the squadron members participate in all levels within Civil Air Patrol (CAP) from the local to the national level.

On 17 March 2020, at the urging of the U.S. Surgeon General, OPL mobilized to support CAP’s COVID-19 response, because the nation had lost 80% of its donor sites due to precautionary COVID closures.

The first Blood Donation Center (BDC) was operational 15 April 2020.  During the initial nine-month surge response of 2020, CAP hosted 42 temporary BDCs at seven sites. With other donations from nation-wide members, OPL supported the collection of 1,530 blood units: becoming one of the largest consistent temporary blood donation programs in the nation.

This resulted in two ARC Outstanding Service recognitions from the President/CEO of the American Red Cross (ARC), the status of “Premier Blood Partner”, and the Ironman Award for its nationwide blood support efforts.

The North Carolina Wing of Civil Air Patrol has joined in this nationwide effort and will hold its first blood donation drive on May 6 at Sugar Valley Airport, 249 Gilbert Road in Mocksville.   To schedule an appointment: call 1-800-RED CROSS (1-800-733-2767)    and use sponsor code:  CAP; or visit RedCrossBlood.org and use the sponsor code:  CAP

Direct questions to Leighton at 336-529-0383.

For more information about the Civil Air Patrol Sugar Valley Composite Squadron, follow on Facebook.com/nc052. The squadron meets every Tuesday evening at 6:30 in the Blue Hangar at Sugar Valley Airport. Visitors are welcome.