Westminster is sponsoring its semi-annual American Red Cross blood drive Thursday, Feb. 23, from noon-6 p.m. in the Club Room of the McKelvey Campus Center, but this year's drive includes something new  a chance learn more about organ donation.

 For more than a quarter of a century, Westminster has successfully filled all available time slots with students and faculty willing to give blood to help others.  Westminster collects enough blood for the American Red Cross to help nearly 500 people each year.  Now they have the chance to help even more by learning about becoming an organ donor.

 Dr. Patrick Krantz, assistant professor of education at Westminster College, has personal reasons for wanting to educate people about organ donation because he needs a kidney.

 "When I was a freshman in college, my kidneys failed and I had surgery to correct the problem.  But in the fall of 2002 my kidneys failed again, and I have been on dialysis ever since," said Krantz.  "I do not have a kidney disease; I do not have diabetes.  I haven't abused my kidneys with alcohol or drugs.  My failure was due to congenital problems that occurred while in the womb."

 "Our student blood donors are fantastic," said Beth Brooks, executive secretary of student affairs.  "Students make up 80 or 90 percent of our donors.  Our staff is wonderful too, but many of them give at one of many community drives in the area or have to teach during the scheduled times."

 Krantz, who has been waiting for a transplant for over three years, does not have a match within his family.  He is on the organ donation list at Allegheny General Hospital in Pittsburgh and has recently been placed on a list in Ohio.

 "Ohio has a new concept in organ donation," Krantz said.  "In this program, if someone wants to donate to me, but are not a match, they can put their name into a database that will match them to someone else who needs a kidney.  If that person has a friend that matches me, then a 'kidney swap' can occur.  This program is great because it will not only allow you to help a friend, but you can also help a stranger."

 Krantz's dialysis regimen has changed over the past years as his needs have changed. 

 "I am currently getting three five-hour treatments each week," Krantz said.  "There was a time when I was spending almost 80 hours each week dialyzing.  Try that with a full teaching load!  I am incredibly fortunate to have a supportive department and administration and every semester my students have been wonderfully understanding.  Most people on dialysis can not work, so I feel incredibly lucky to work at Westminster."

 "This drive is not intended to ask people to donate a kidney to me," Krantz continued.  "The intention is to raise awareness and let people know that they can change someone's life.  You can make a real difference, today."

 "Sodexho Dining Services always provides fruit punch and cookies for donors," Brooks said.  "Panhellenic Council serves as hostesses and they provide marvelous help.  Our radio station is doing a live remote during signups and will provide public service announcements prior to the drive to remind people about their appointments. This is a team effort.

 "We've always been successful in our drive.  The Red Cross uses our way of signing up via e-mail as a prototype for other area colleges," Brooks continued.  "They like our atmosphere, good student demeanor, and promptness.  Our available time slots fill quickly, which makes appointments necessary.
 
 Contact Brooks at (724) 946-7111 or e-mail brooksbb@westminster for more information about the blood drive or information about organ donation.

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