At 23, I had to take my son to All Children's Hospital due to a heart condition. My son did not need a blood transfusion, but I saw many other children who did and began donating blood. When I turned 33, I lost my sight due to a hereditary glaucoma, but that did not stop me from donating. 

I believe donating is one of the most important acts of volunteering you can do for your community. Ever two weeks I take a taxi to the donor center to give platelets. I'm happy to have reached the 100-gallon milestone.