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Pensacola, FL
May 8, 2014
In a very stunning turnaround, dedicated blood donor and Florida National Guard Sergeant Jacob Thomas won a car in a blood center promotion and decided to give the car away to his friend and fellow Platoon Sergeant William McNeil, Jr. who is fighting Leukemia and awaiting a bone marrow transplant.
“I got a reliable car, I don’t particularly need the money, so you know, it’s like helping a friend out. I mean, he needs it a lot more than I do. It’s the right thing to do. The car is just a bonus. The real winning is donating blood and helping people and saving their lives"
-Thomas
“He told me I just want to give you the car. I was completely blown away and I really didn’t know what to say. I have a really old car and must travel to Shands Hospital in Gainesville for treatment. Now I have a car that will hold my family and one that is a gas saver”, said McNeil.
Jacob has been donating blood since high school and ironically enough, his friend William has had to have multipule blood and platelet transfusions due to the harsh effects of chemotherapy.
KIA Autosport of Pensacola donated the car for the promotion. Kia Autosport Manager and Vice President Jessica Lee thanked Jacob and all blood donors for their blood donations during the promotion. She said, “It’s not about the car but raising awareness to the increased need for blood in our community”.
OneBlood serves as one of the seven military hubs throughout the country which means they are ready to provide needed blood to the military when called.