
                         Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: SATURDAY, July 8, 1995                   TAG: 9507100053
SECTION: CURRENT                    PAGE: NRV3   EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY 
SOURCE: KENNETH SINGLETARY STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: BLACKSBURG                                 LENGTH: Medium

POLITICIANS ROLL UP THEIR SLEEVES, PROVE THEY AREN'T BLOODLESS

Montgomery County politicians and politician wanna-bes showed their mettle Thursday when they rolled up their sleeves, took a deep breath - and gave blood at the New River Valley Blood Center in Blacksburg.

Democrats and Republicans came together and gave 28 units of blood, two units shy of the day's goal. Organizer Jo Anne Dickerson wasn't disappointed. It's tough to find enough donors to fill the quota during the summer in this college town.

"It went very well. They all seemed to have a good time talking and giving blood," Dickerson said. "They were all real troupers."

Dropping by were Jim Shuler, the Democrat who represents Blacksburg in the House of Delegates, and Larry Linkous, chairman of the county Board of Supervisors and the Republican competitor for Shuler's job. Other candidates who either gave blood or moral support included: Helen St. Clair, candidate for county commissioner of revenue; Joey Showalter, who is running for county Commonwealth's Attorney; Alan Burke, county circuit court clerk; and Jerry Olinger and Doug Marrs, candidates for sheriff; and Curtis Cox, candidate for the Board of Supervisors.

Ann Hess, former chairwoman of the supervisors, and newspaper columnist Donna Alvis-Banks gave blood, too, among others.

Dickerson reports that no one ran screaming out the door when he saw the needle. And, she adds, none of the politicos gave a speech.

"The idea was to get them out, set up the TV cameras, give them publicity and let people know about us," she said.

The blood center is badly in need of publicity, despite its location in downtown Blacksburg, at 130 Jackson St., Dickerson said. Attracting donors is a never-ending problem.

Dickerson, who came up with the idea of inviting local politicians to give blood, said donoting is a safe procedure that takes only about 45 minutes.

Fewer than 5 percent of eligible donors in the area contribute, and not all of them do so as often as they could. Donated blood is used within the Appalachian Blood Region, which serves 44 hospitals and four dialysis centers.

The blood center's phone number is 961-2207. It's hours are noon to 6 p.m. every Thursday.

by CNB