Making Dad Proud
- NEIA Red Cross
- 2 minutes ago
- 2 min read
June is a difficult month for Micki Young and her family. In June of 2020, her dad, John Bunts, died from cancer. After his death, Young wanted to give back to the community her dad cared deeply about while he was alive. She began hosting a blood drive in his memory in 2021 and found comfort in bringing the community together.
“This has been my way to heal,” says Young. “It’s my way to get through June.”
Young’s father was a proud family man, a truck driver, motorcycle enthusiast and Vietnam veteran. He was also committed to sharing the magic of the holiday season by playing the role of Santa Claus for several nearby communities. Young explained that he truly embodied the spirit of Christmas when he put on the Santa suit.
“He was often mistaken as a big scary biker,” says Young. “But the minute he put on the Santa suit everyone got to see how loving and giving he was.”
Bunts’ portrayal of Santa and his willingness to always step in and help a friend, neighbor and community stuck with Young. In hosting a blood drive, she keeps his memory alive while also creating a space to promote blood donation.
The need for blood is constant. Every two seconds, someone in the U.S. needs blood. Blood donations to the Red Cross help ensure new parents, premature babies, accident victims and cancer patients have access to safe, much-needed blood.
Bunts was one of those patients needing blood. During his treatment, he received several blood transfusions. Young described a visit with him to the emergency room during his cancer diagnosis. The nurse said he needed a blood transfusion. Young happily told him that she was a blood donor and maybe he would receive her blood.
“Well, he is B positive,” the nurse said. “And that’s what we’re going to do [be positive].”
Young remembers that story when hosting the annual blood drive in memory of her father. The blood drive has grown in success over the past four years. It averages 80 units collected per year. Young is especially proud of how many first-time blood donors the drive attracts. Young’s three children volunteer at the blood drives. Her oldest daughter recently turned 17 and plans to continue donating blood.
“I just want to make him proud,” Young says as she explains her motivation for continuing to hold the drive in honor of her dad. “When people think of him, I want them to remember how much love he had for everyone. He was always the first one to give back.”
Hosting a blood drive is a thoughtful way to remember and honor someone. The Red Cross makes hosting a blood drive simple and fun. Red Cross representatives work with the host to provide planning assistance and recruitment tools, including an online scheduling tool. The host provides a location, volunteers and helps to schedule blood donors. To learn more about hosting a blood drive, visit redcrossblood.org.