Local Firefighter Shares Story About Lifesaving Blood Donation | Community Spirit

The Columbia Fire Department’s Captain Philip Yarchuk was saved by the gift of blood. Six years ago, Captain Yarchuk was severely injured in a construction accident. He spent numerous weeks in the hospital and received lifesaving blood transfusions.

“If it wasn’t for the gift of blood from perfect strangers, I wouldn't be alive today,” Captain Yarchuk says.

Since receiving his lifesaving gift, Captain Yarchuk has made a personal mission to donate every chance he gets. On his last donation, the nurse told him that he has donated over 3 gallons of blood.

Mayor Steve Benjamin and the American Red Cross South Carolina Blood Services Region Board of Directors have teamed up for the third annual Columbia Lifesavers blood drive in an effort to collect 500 pints of blood.

This year’s drive will be a two-day event and will be held 7 a.m.-2 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 12, and Wednesday, Feb. 13, at the Columbia Metropolitan Convention Center, 1101 Lincoln St.

For more information or to schedule an appointment to donate, call Kimberly Reaves at 803-312-5609 or visit redcrossblood.org and enter sponsor code columbialifesavers.

All presenting donors will receive a Red Cross T-shirt and a bag of coffee courtesy of Starbucks. In addition, all presenting donors will have the chance to win a $300 Walmart gift card.

The South Carolina Red Cross needs an average of 500 units of blood each day. One pint of blood can save up to 3 lives. Make your appointment today and become a Columbia Lifesaver.