A 71-year-old Ohio man took his nationwide campaign to a Westbank blood center Thursday -- the 22nd stop on his quest to donate platelets in all 50 states.
Al Whitney is a retiree who is dedicating his golden years to a lifesaving cause.
He wants to draw increased attention to the need for platelet donors and blood donation in general.
"Less than 6 percent of people who can donate blood do," Whitney said while making a donation at The Blood Center in Harvey.
"We should get people out from the community to donate. It's very important. When you come out, you save a life. You save three lives!"
Platelet donations take a bit longer than a donation of whole blood. In most cases, the process lasts about 90 minutes.
Blood is drawn from the donor and filtered through a machine that separates the fluid into components. Platelets are stored for later use, while the rest of the blood is immediately returned to the donor.
Hospitals are in constant need of platelets because they are used on cancer and transplant patients, as well as those involved in a trauma situation. Many recipients are children.
A platelet donor can safely go through the process once every two weeks.
Whitney figures it will take about two years to complete his journey. As part of his visit to the New Orleans area, he spent time Tuesday at Children's Hospital, meeting some of the younger patients who may benefit from his platelet donation.
He made his first blood donation in 1965 and over the course of several decades, he organized blood drives near his home in suburban Cleveland. He gave that up several years ago, but remained committed to the cause.
"I said to myself, 'You know, I can do more than this' and I came up with the idea of donating in every state," Whitney said. "Hence the name 'Platelets Across America.'"
Those looking to learn more about donating can call 800-86-BLOOD or log on to
.
