RAFs Mildenhall, Lakenheath donate more than $106,000 in blood

Published May 19, 2011
By Karen Abeyasekere
100th Air Refueling Wing Public Affairs

RAF MILDENHALL, England -- The Armed Services Blood Drive here collected 356 units of blood from the 431 people who signed up to donate May 11 - saving the equivalent of $106,800. If purchased commercially, blood costs $300 per unit.

Of the potential donors who signed up, 201 were Team Mildenhall members, who provided 158 units of blood.

"RAF Mildenhall really stepped up for the blood drive," said Maj. Rob Curtis, 48th Medical Support Squadron lab support operations chief, in an e-mail. "(You've) collected 60 percent more than the quota of 100 units!"

All blood collected from the drive is used solely within Department of Defense facilities, the majority of which goes to European Command, Africa Command and Central Command. Little, if any, of the blood goes back to the States.

"In fact, we (the 48th Medical Group) received our monthly shipment of blood May 18, and it was all collected locally - by us, for us!" said Major Curtis.