Hometown Heroes: Recognizing Mike Blachek
This week's ServPro Hometown Heroes segment recognizes Mike Blachek. The American Red Cross also recognized Blachek with the Blood Donor award.
Every two seconds, someone in the U.S. needs blood, according to the Red Cross. The average donation can save three lives.
Blachek has been donating blood for 46 years, starting when he was 19 years old.
In that time, he has donated 25 gallons of blood or 200 pints, enough to save as many as 600 lives.
The first time Blachek gave blood, it was at the Victory Building in Johnson City, at an Endicott Johnson blood drive.
When he moved to Rochester, Minnesota, for IBM, he would continue to donate. This time at the Mayo Clinic.
Both his father and grandfather had leukemia and needed blood donations, so Mike
says he feels blessed to be able to help others who need it.