FULLERTON : Troy High School to Hold Blood Drive

Troy High School is sponsoring a blood drive Thursday that is named for an accident victim, both as a tribute to her and to raise awareness about the dangers of drunk driving.

The Linda Bloedel Blood Drive will be from 8 a.m. to 1:15 p.m. on the high school campus at 2200 E. Dorothy Lane. The public is encouraged to donate blood.

Bloedel, 33, a mother of three, was hit by a drunk driver last month while driving home from work. Her car was so badly damaged that emergency crews had to pry her out. She was rushed to UCI Medical Center in Orange, where she was treated for massive head and body injuries and internal bleeding.

She credits donated blood with saving her life, which is why Bloedel’s friends decided to honor her with the blood drive.

“This is a goodwill gesture,” Shaun Hughes said. “We hope this blood drive will help other people who need blood to survive accidents like Linda’s and maybe make people think twice before deciding to drive while drunk.

“We’re trying to make people think about how drunk driving can wreak havoc in the family and in the community.”

Bloedel, who is recovering at home, is bedridden and still suffering from a broken skull, pelvis, spine and neck. She has had to stop nursing her 5-month-old son.

“Things can happen so quickly, and they can change your life,” Bloedel said. “I think the blood drive is just wonderful, because when I needed blood, I got it, and it saved my life.

“It’s pretty scary to be hit by a drunk driver. I feel very fortunate to be alive and I hope when people go out to party and have fun that they not drive while drunk, because they can hurt or even kill other people.”

Jenny Gadd, 17, who is organizing the blood drive, said that 150 people have already signed up as donors.

“I think we’ll get a lot more donors because of Linda,” she said.