2016 Run for Blood, Minneapolis, MN. Photo credit: Jonathan Yoon/American Red Cross
Story by Jonathan Yoon
On July 23, 2016, the American Red Cross Minnesota Region, in sponsorship with Smiths Medical, held its 8th annual Run for Blood 5K at Lake Calhoun in Minneapolis.
Considering there was a slight chance of rain throughout the duration of the race, the attendance of nearly 300 people was a great turnout this year. The 2016 Run for Blood proved to be everything but ordinary. Food carts, music, dance groups, and various stands were all a part of the event, but there was something even more important to the race.
Patrick Henry High School Step Team, 2016 Run for Blood, Minneapolis, MN. Photo credit: Jonathan Yoon/American Red Cross
While the Run for Blood 5K might be about getting to the end of the line with family, friends, or solo, little do people know of the impact this run and walk event has on the surrounding community. Right now, someone in the United States needs blood or platelets every two seconds. With the donation van onsite, many runners were able to give lifesaving blood and race proceeds to over 108 hospitals in the states of Minnesota, Wisconsin, South Dakota and Iowa. This race was and continues to be a great way for families, friends and coworkers to rally together and raise awareness for the need for blood.
Race and walk start, 2016 Run for Blood, Minneapolis, MN. Photo credit: Jonathan Yoon/American Red Cross
At 8:30 a.m., the runners and walkers began lining up at the start line, getting ready to show their physical stamina, strength, or a mix of both. In addition to the number of solo runners, the race would not have been as exciting without the various teams. Such teams included “Faster than Disaster” to “Walking Disasters.” While some groups may have been an understatement of their actual pace, everyone found one way or another to enjoy the 3.10 miles of the race around Lake Calhoun. It was encouraging to see people of all ages and size willing to come together and strive towards the Run for Blood ultimate mission: raising awareness for the never-ending need of blood.
Walkers, too, during the 2016 Run for Blood, Minneapolis, MN. Photo credit: Jonathan Yoon/American Red Cross
A number of thank you letters go out to a number of people. First and foremost, this race would not have been as athletic or competitive without the runners who gave some of their money to donate for a better cause and run or walk the five kilometers. Second, the sponsors, including presenting sponsor Smiths Medical, and hydration station sponsor Culligan, and tech T-shirt sponsor Western National Insurance, that helped fund the raise, continue to make these events happen. And, great thanks to the event volunteers! No matter the level of importance, the American Red Cross 2016 Run for Blood could not have happened without you and we are incredibly grateful for your work.
Volunteers and staff, 2016 Run for Blood, Minneapolis, MN. Photo credit: Carrie Carlson-Guest/American Red Cross
While some of you were unable to attend this event, there are always different ways in how you can aid this blood shortage going on. There are four American Red Cross donation centers within the Twin Cities and all you need to do is schedule an appointment. Maybe the next time you hear the phrase, “Ready, Set, Go” you’ll think of a different phrase: Ready, Set, Donate by signing up for the 2017 Run for Blood 5K next summer!
Tech T-shirt, 2016 Run for Blood, Minneapolis, MN. Photo credit: Jonathan Yoon/American Red Cross
Danielle Anselment received 40 units of blood that helped save her life.
One year ago Danielle Anselment started to hemorrhage while giving birth to her fifth child. It was remarkable, doctors said, that she pulled through. Donated blood on the shelves made the difference. To save her life, doctors gave Danielle 40 pints of blood and platelets. Without it she might not be here to take care for her family. Her husband Shaun would likely be a single parent with five young children. She’s living proof, she says, that blood makes a world of difference.
Danielle, who’s a sergeant with the Eagan Police Department, has joined forces with the American Red Cross and the 2016 Run for Blood, an annual event that raises awareness for the constant need for blood. This 5K run and walk, and community blood drive will be held on July 23 at Lake Calhoun in Minneapolis. The Run for Blood is fun summer event that supports American Red Cross North Central Blood Services, which provides lifesaving blood products to 108 hospitals in Minnesota, western Wisconsin, eastern South Dakota and northwest Iowa.
Run for Blood 2015, Minneapolis, MN
Whether you are a blood recipient or blood donor, or you know someone who has needed blood, you can find a fit for participating in this fun summer event. You can form a team, join a team, donate blood, or cheer on runner and walkers. The Run for Blood is family-friendly, and new this year is a Pint-Size Corner featuring kid dashes, games, and face painting.
Register online at redcross.org/mn. Blood donors can also sign-up to give blood using sponsor code “Run for Blood” in the free Red Cross Blood App. Same day registrations for the run/walk and to donate blood are also welcome. Each participant will receive a free tech T-shirt and swag bag with items and coupons from local businesses.
The 2016 Run for Blood will raise awareness about the constant need for blood.
Thank you to Run for Blood presenting sponsor Smiths Medical. Special thanks to our water sponsor Culligan and T-shirt sponsor Western National Insurance. And many thanks to the volunteers who help make this event a fun and safe event to everyone!
On May 6, the American Red Cross in Minnesota presented six awards that honored ten people for their heroic efforts helping others during great times of need. Below we share with you their inspiring stories.
Six of ten heroes honored at the 2016 American Red Cross Minnesota Region’s Heroes Breakfast. They include (clockwise) Shawn Hansen, Bryden Bronikowski, Mike Clark, Jerry Nelson, Jenny Braith and Russ Braith. Photo credit: Lynette Nyman/American Red Cross
Duluth teen Bryden Bronikowski was honored with the Youth Good Samaritan Hero Awardfor helping to save the life of his young cousin. “Panic is your worst enemy,” says Bryden. “Fearing anything can go wrong.” Watch Bryden’s story.
Nisswa Chamber of Commerce president Shawn Hansen received the Community Hero Award for being a vital part of daily coordination and communications during the windstorm disaster relief efforts in Nisswa in July 2015. “As human beings we have to focus on making the world better,” says Shawn. Watch Shawn’s story.
Mike Clark of Eagan received the Military Hero Award for supporting the needs of people in the armed forces. “It gives me an opportunity to connect with people that are just really down to earth,” says Mike. “And they’re really thankful for knowing there’s somebody out there who cares about them.” Watch Mike’s story.
Shoreview resident Jerry Nelson was honored with the Give Life Hero Award for his continuous blood donations and support of organ transplant families. “I’m not a hero for giving blood,” says Jerry. “Transplant patients and the people who get the blood are the heroes.” Watch Jerry’s story.
Three Willmar police officers received Red Cross Heroes awards on May 6, 2016.
Willmar police officers Mike Jahnke, Joshua Helgeson, and Jeff Liebl were honored with the First Responder Hero Award for putting their lives on the line to resolve a potentially tragic situation. “He’s a human being,” says Josh. “It’s our job to help him, and that’s what we did.” Watch Mike, Josh, and Jeff’s story.
On May 6, 2016, Greg Pint received a Red Cross Hero Award.
Montgomery residents Russ and Jenny Braith, and Lonsdale resident Greg Pint, were honored with the Good Samaritan Hero Award for putting their own lives at risk to save a man from a car going underwater. “I heard him hitting the buttons, the door locking, but no windows coming down,” says Russ. Watch Russ, Jenny and Greg’s story.
Click here to nominate someone for the 2017 Heroes Awards. Post by Lynette Nyman/American Red Cross.
A few days ago, our region of the American Red Cross announced its 2016 Heroes Awards recipients. These ten people—whose extraordinary actions exemplify the Red Cross mission to prevent and alleviate human suffering in the face of emergencies—saved lives, connected communities, and supported children when they needed it most:
Community HeroShawn Hansen, Nisswa First Responder HeroesSgt. Mike Jahnke & Officer Joshua Helgeson & Officer Jeff Liebl, Willmar Give Life HeroJerry Nelson, Shoreview Good Samaritan HeroesRuss and Jenny Braith, Montgomery, and Greg Pint, Lonsdale Military HeroMike Clark, Eagan Youth Good Samaritan Hero Bryden Bronikowski, Duluth
Powerful Stories That Inspire
You are invited to attend the 8th Annual Heroes Breakfast, which will take place on Friday, May 6, at the Radisson Blu Mall of America in Bloomington, MN. Tickets and table sponsorships are available online at redcross.org/mnheroes or by calling (612) 872-3241. During the breakfast you will hear powerful and inspiring stories about ten people helping others when they needed it most. The breakfast also is an opportunity to celebrate the Red Cross and its important humanitarian work.
Sponsors Make It Happen
Thank you to our 2016 Heroes Breakfast sponsors. This year’s sponsors include presenting sponsor Land O’Lakes, matching gift sponsor US Bank, award sponsors CenterPoint Energy, CHS, Medica, St. Jude Foundation, Anime Twin Cities, UnitedHealth, reception sponsor Navigate Forward, and vignette sponsor Patterson Companies. And thanks to the Minnesota Twins for donating game tickets to our heroes.
Nearly every eight minutes, the American Red Cross extends a helping hand to a family in need that has lost everything – the roof over their heads, their clothes, and their most cherished possessions – to a home fire. Across Minnesota and parts of western Wisconsin, the Minnesota Region of the American Red Cross has been busy helping neighbors. But your help is needed on one special day to continue to provide the emergency services that our neighbors depend on every day.
Red Cross Giving Day
On April 21, you have a chance to help families in need whenever and wherever they need it by participating in the national American Red Cross Giving Day to #help1family. A donation of $88.50 can provide a family with a day’s worth of food, plus blankets and other essentials. We’re proud of the disaster relief our region provided last year. This included supporting more than 2,300 people affected by local disasters, which were mostly home fires, and installing more than 1,000 smoke alarms to improve home fire safety.
Become a social ambassador
You can help spread the word about Giving Day – the more people who support Giving Day means we can help more families. Use your social media channels to reach out to friends and family and ask them to donate to #help1family. Here are four ways donations will #help1family:
1. Supporting a family in urgent need: provide funding to give a family a day’s worth of food, blankets, and other essentials.
2. Supplying warm meals: help provide hearty, comforting meals to people impacted by disasters.
3. Providing clean-up kits after a disaster strikes: make clean-up kits available for families in need that include vital items like a mop, bucket, and disinfectant.
4. Deploying an emergency response vehicle for a day: Red Cross workers travel to impacted neighborhoods in fully stocked Emergency Response vehicles to provide food, water and critical relief.
Imagine the impact that we could have on our community if everyone wanted to #help1family.
“I am so thankful to this community, my neighbors, and the Red Cross,” says Monica Smith lost nearly everything when her home in floods in Deweyville, Texas. Photo Credit: Danuta Otfinowski/American Red Cross
As much of the country looks forward to Easter weekend, thousands of people in Louisiana, Texas and Mississippi are still dealing with the impacts of severe and widespread flooding.
For more than two weeks, communities across the South and Gulf Coast have endured intense rainfall and record-breaking flooding. The Sabine River flooding on the Texas and Louisiana border has broken records held since the 1880s and the Red River in Louisiana hit its highest level in more than 70 years. And this week, portions of the southern U.S. will face the return of severe thunderstorms and flooding, raising additional flooding concerns for already drenched terrain throughout the lower Mississippi Valley.
The American Red Cross is there on the ground, working around the clock to support individuals and families in need. On Tuesday, March 22, more than 270 people spent the evening in 16 Red Cross and community shelters in Texas, Louisiana and Mississippi.
Since severe storms and flooding began earlier this month, more than 1,500 Red Cross disaster relief workers, both staff and volunteers have:
Opened 60 shelters which have provided more than 4,000 overnight stays;
Distributed more than 70,000 relief items; and
Served more than 170,000 meals and snacks for impacted residents.
As people return to their neighborhoods, many are finding their homes inundated with muddy brown water and sewage, and their property strewn with heavy piles of debris. Even if their homes don not appear destroyed from the outside, some people have mobile homes that were immersed in several inches or a foot of water and inaccessible for over a week—many of those homes are a total loss because of the duration they spent with water inside.
Monica and Robert Smith lost nearly everything when their Deweyville, Texas home filled with five feet of water last week. “Everything that we own is now in the yard. We only had a few hours to evacuate, so we left it all behind,” says Monica who has lived with her family in Deweyville her entire life and has never seen a flood of this magnitude. In the photo above, Monica shows a Red Cross volunteer just how high the water was. “I am so thankful to this community, my neighbors, and the Red Cross,” says Monica. “I am not sure how I would have handled this situation without help.”
“Everyone here is so friendly and kind,” says Maybel Bordelon who received Red Cross relief supplies in Orange, Texas. Photo Credit: Danuta Otfinowski/American Red Cross
In addition to sheltering, the Red Cross is also helping to operate Multi-Agency Resource Centers (MARC) throughout impacted areas. At these resource centers people can sit down a with Red Cross caseworker, as well as with government and community partner organizations that are offering assistance. Recovering from a disaster can be a confusing and trying process; resource centers help streamline relief information and aid so people can more easily find the help they need.
Impacted residents visit MARCs for cleanup supplies, hot meals, emotional counseling and health services, including 75-year-old Maybel Bordelon (pictured above) from Orange, Texas. “Everyone here is so friendly and kind. Everyone is town is talking about the help that Red Cross is providing. We are so thankful you are here.”
You can help We need your continued support now to help people affected by disasters big and small. Those who would like to help people affected by disasters like flooding and countless other crises can make a donation to Red Cross Disaster Relief. People can donate by visiting redcross.org, calling 1-800-RED CROSS or texting the word REDCROSS to 90999 to make a $10 donation. These donations enable the Red Cross to prepare for, respond to and help people recover from disasters big and small.
Support the teams Do you want to start supporting a Dancing with the Mankato Stars team? Check out the new Crowdrise page where you can donate to your favorite dance team and help them win the upcoming competition while supporting American Red Cross programs and services in southwest Minnesota.
Attend the event Join us on the event day, February, 13, to watch the dancing teams. The teams are local celebrities who are paired with professional dance partners from Dance Express and colleagues of Dance Express. They will each compete for trophies, awards and the top spot. This event will raise money for the American Red Cross serving Southwest Minnesota.
Learn about Red Cross As part of the global Red Cross network, the American Red Cross works to reduce human suffering in the face of emergencies. Primary lines of humanitarian services include disaster relief, recovery and preparedness, emergency communications and financial assistance for military members and their families, health and safety training, blood and platelet donation collection, processing and distribution, reconnection search and messaging for people separated by international conflict and disasters, and immunizations in vulnerable communities around the globe.
The Red Cross in southwest Minnesota serves more than 369,000 people in communities across Blue Earth, Brown, Cottonwood, Faribault, Jackson, Lincoln, Lyon, McLeod, Martin, Murray, Nicollet, Nobles, Pipestone, Redwood, Renville, Rock, Sibley, Watonwan and Yellow Medicine counties. In southwest Minnesota last year, the Red Cross supported 62 families affected by disasters, collected more than 30,000 units of blood, trained 13,126 people in lifesaving and caregiving skills, provided 153 emergency communications services to military families, and installed 214 smoke alarms for home fire safety.
Are you still looking to find the perfect holiday gift for someone on your list? The American Red Cross Holiday Gift Catalog offers symbolic, inspired gifts that warm hearts and support people during times of great need.
Take a look at these ideas:
The chef in your family knows the importance of a hot meal. Give the gift of a hot meal and help give people the energy needed during hard times after disaster strikes.
The talker in your family knows the importance of staying connected. Give the gift of emergency communications and help ensure military families reach loved ones during family emergencies.
Your friends who own homes know the importance of working smoke alarms. Give the gift of home fire preparedness and help keep people safe from the most common disaster threat.
The world traveler in your life knows the importance of health and wellness. Give the gift of vaccination and protect children abroad from measles and rubella for a lifetime.
The caregiver in your life knows the importance of lifesaving blood. Give the gift of blood donation by supporting the process that gets blood from donors to patients.
Thank you for supporting the Red Cross humanitarian mission!
On June 20, Team Red Cross will take to the pavement during Grandma’s Marathon in Duluth, Minnesota. We asked two team members, Susan Waananen, a disaster response volunteer, and Eric Adams, a disaster program specialist, to check-in with each other about training and tips for the event. See below their insights!
Red Cross volunteer Susan Waananen
Eric: How’s the training going?
Susan: Nothing hurts…that’s about all I require of my training these days! I ran a half marathon last month and it was pretty slow, but I’m not worried about finishing.
E: Any post run rituals or diet to help from hurting the next morning after a run?
S: Well, I often shower afterwards, haha. If it’s been a longer run, I’ll force myself to run cold water on my legs for the first couple of minutes. As for food, I love Lara bars right after a run. I also find it helpful to drink a cup of coffee an hour before a long run and I usually crave a burger that night. Or whenever I wake up from my nap..:) How about you? Do you eat pasta the night before a race?
E: I do eat spaghetti before a marathon or a longer run. I still subscribe to the ritual. Post-race, I try to have a banana or two. I need to force myself to have more protein post-race as well. I think that’s why I’ve been sore longer than I’d like after a marathon. The coffee does really help. I’ve found myself up at 2 a.m. on days when I drink coffee but forget that I need to run. Do you use energy gels or anything during the race? I was just talking with a volunteer who’s done post-race massages in the past and she was commenting on how amazing and disturbing it was that people had so much salt on their skin after the race from the dried sweat!
S: I use gels if I’m running for more than 90 minutes. My favorite GU flavors are the Espresso Love and Salted Caramel. Speaking of salt, I am usually coated after a longer race. I always go for the potato chips and Pearson’s salted nut rolls when they’re offered at the food tent. How about you? I’ve also had good luck with Sport Beans if my stomach can’t handle a GU, especially after Mile 20. Have you tried those? Or the gel blocks? I find those a little too big. I’m running 12 miles tomorrow. Do you have a long run scheduled? I know 13 is easy for you! June seemed so far in the future, but now it’s almost time to start the taper.
Red Cross disaster relief worker Eric Adams
E: Salted caramel is my favorite as well, but there’s another one that just came out that they’re describing like Nutella and it’s pretty good. It’s pretty weird to be able to run your hand over your forehead and see the salt on your hand. Would that qualify as organic or all natural salt? Brand it as “Runner’s Best.” I recently had someone recommend the gel blocks to me. They said the margarita was the their favorite. If I’m going to have a buzz from dehydration, I might as well have the associated taste. I haven’t been able to run my usual 12 miles for 2 weeks due to a busy schedule, but I’ve been doing a little trail running by my house, biking, kayaking, and last week I was climbing up and down a roof like a monkey, so I’m claiming those as cross training. Time just seems to be running out fast.
S: Your cross-training sounds a lot more exciting…and risky…than mine! Does gardening count? As I’ve gotten older, I’ve found that I can’t run every day anymore or I risk injury. I’ve also learned the hard way that you can also get hurt doing yoga if you approach it too competitively! Do you listen to music while you run? My new favorite run song is Around the Bend by Asteroids Galaxy. I’ve also made it through a number of books during long runs. I find the music more helpful for faster workouts or races. How many marathons will this be for you? Do you have a goal in mind?
E: Competitive yoga…I honestly don’t know what to think about that. I listen to a few different Pandora stations depending on my mood…Rolling Stones, Audioslave, Puscifer, Jimi Hendrix, and a few others. I’ve tried listening to MPR while running, but it just becomes too distracting because I actually want to think instead of zoning out. High pace without lyrics is typically the best for me. This will be my fourth marathon, my third Grandma’s. I think I will be aiming for my four hour mark. But depending on the weather, my first goal is always to finish. How about you? How many marathons and any specific goals?
S: I’ve run four full marathons; Grandma’s was my most recent in 2011. I’ve run lots of halfs, but just once before at Grandma’s and it was my very first one. Finishing is always the primary goal. I’d like to finish under two hours if possible. I’ve had a foot injury for the last couple of years and so honestly, I am just thankful to be running without any pain this summer. Did you see that your friends and family can register to track your progress? I think that could be motivating too! The countdown is on! Have you started checking the weather forecast? Looks good so far!
E: As long as it’s not hot, I’ll be happy. The last two years it’s been damp and overcasts which has kept the temp down. I went for my run yesterday and discovered that my “cross training” wasn’t keeping me in as good of shape as I had hoped. I was able to run until the 10.5 mile mark before my knees started to quiver, so I’m going to have to use these last two weeks well. Doesn’t help that I don’t have any water breaks along my route. Under two hours would still put you in the record book for this race. I know about the tracking site. In the past, I posted it on my Facebook page before the race and have had family and friends follow me, sending comments and texts as I reach different milestones along the race. It really does help. The last two races I’ve also worn my Captain America Under Armour, which has added to the cheer factor from the people watching the race. Any traditions or superstitions before the race? You’re running the full marathon, right?
S: I’m running the full half-marathon…:) It’s that 0.1 at the end that is the hardest…unless you’re Captain America and you can just fly over the finish line! I don’t have lucky socks or special safety pins, but I’ve worn the same hat for every race so I’d be sad if that disappeared. I try to get plenty of sleep the week leading up to a long race because I am usually too excited to sleep well the night before. Plus a 6:15 a.m. start is pretty early! I always make sure my shoes are double-knotted and I wear a watch that tells me my average pace so I don’t go out too fast…or finish too slow! One of my favorite things before the race is walking around the expo after picking up my bib, looking at all the fun stuff and listening to the guest speakers. I’m looking forward to meeting the rest of Team Red Cross that afternoon, too!
We’re wishing the entire Team Red Cross a great event during Grandma’s Marathon. Most team members are raising funds to support Red Cross programs and services. Join Team Red Cross here. Check out Susan’s fundraising page here. Check out Eric’s fundraising page here.
On July 25, the American Red Cross Minnesota Region will host the 2015 Run for Blood. This family-friendly walk and run event celebrates the people who give lifesaving blood and supports Red Cross blood services. This inspiring story helps tell why we’re doing this event and why you should participate, too. Go Kate Go!
Kate Ross became a donor advocate following a life changing accident that required multiple surgeries and blood donations to save her life. Photo credit: Andy King
When you first meet Kate Ross you are instantly moved by her infectious smile and constant laughter. Her friends describe her as fun, inspiring, outgoing, incredible, full of energy, strong and a positive presence. She describes herself on her blog biography as a “student, animal lover, daughter and sister, spiritual, music-obsessed fitness enthusiast, artistic, friendly, optimistic and a volunteer.”
You would never sense from her upbeat demeanor or the words used to describe her that nearly five years ago her life changed in an instant, and she now proudly wears a fashionable crystal-studded, paisley prosthetic leg. Nowhere in the description of Kate could you tell that she was faced with a tragedy that could have easily left her feeling sorry for herself.
In fact, her story is quite the opposite.
“In December 2009, I was weary from the exhaustion of being a full-time student and working full time. I took my finals at school and on my way home that evening I fell asleep while driving,” said Ross. When she dozed off, she was traveling 60 mph and hit a guardrail, which penetrated her car and went through her right calf and thigh.
“I knew that something was drastically wrong with my leg, although I’m lucky that I didn’t realize there was a guardrail basically through my entire body at that point.”
Red Cross advocate Kate Ross participated in the 2014 Run for Blood in Minneapolis. She’s training for the 2015 event and is planning to use a new prosthetic leg made especially for running. Photo credit: Andy King
Ross was taken by ambulance to the hospital, and after several surgeries, doctors put her in a medically induced coma. Seven days later, on Christmas Day, doctors made the grave decision to amputate her leg above the knee.
Ross underwent more nearly two years of occupational and physical therapy before her life returned to a “new normal.” Through 19 surgeries, she needed more than 25 pints of lifesaving blood products.
“I was very thankful for the blood being available when I needed it, but I never thought about being a blood donor myself because I’m terrified of needles.” But when her best friend and co-worker asked her to participate in a blood drive, she realized that, despite her fear, she should give blood, too.
“She reminded me it was donated blood that helped save my life after my accident. It was like a big, needed slap in the face that reminded me that I wouldn’t be here to tell my story if it hadn’t been for the generosity of blood donors.”
With a new found gratitude and outlook on life, Ross became a blood donor last year and strives to “be the good you wish to see in the world.” Once a blood recipient, now she is paying it forward.
Kate Ross (l), a Red Cross Hero, is shown here with American Red Cross President and CEO Gail McGovern during the 2014 Heroes Breakfast in Minneapolis. Photo credit: Andy King
“I am very excited to say that I have become a blood donor myself because I know how important it is to give something that means something – the gift of life. You never know when you or a loved one will be the one that needs blood.”
Ross is thankful for the heroes who helped save her life and has become an advocate for the Red Cross and a true hero herself. In 2014, she received an American Red Cross Minnesota Region Heroes Award that honors those who have made the simple, yet powerful decision to put their personal needs aside in order to help others.
Ross underwent another surgery last fall on her leg. She was fit for a new prosthetic that improves her mobility and allows her to run. She’s currently training for the 2015 Run for Blood walk and run event at Lake Calhoun in Minneapolis on July 25.
American Red Cross Minnesota and Dakotas Region 