Lincoln Park man raises awareness with annual blood drive

CHICAGO (WLS) -- For nearly 20 years, Mark Buciak, of Lincoln Park, has been encouraging friends and strangers alike to roll up their sleeves and help save a life. And he's spreading that message while running in the fast lane. A runner since high school, Buciak has run in the Boston Marathon every year for the past 35 years.

He was there with his wife two years ago when a pair of homemade bombs killed three people and injured more than 260 others. Buciak says the tragedy gave him renewed purpose and so he sent out a challenge to fellow runners.

"More than a marathon, it was a race of good versus evil and how could the good win that race?" Buciak says. "One of the suggestions I said for making America stronger and to show our strength was to donate a pint of life."

Buciak has long been an advocate for blood donation. After his father died in 1996, he organized an American Red Cross blood drive at Old St. Patrick's church in the West Loop. He has held the blood drive in honor of his dad every year since.

Last year, we collected 140 pints in one day," he says, "and we have collected over 1000 pints at St. Pat's."

Those blood donations are critical during life-threatening emergencies.

"Technology can do wonderful things and can keep people alive and cure many diseases," he says, "but one thing we cannot do in a factory is create blood or a substitute for blood. There's only one source and that is you."

During cold and flu season, many people may be ineligible to donate blood. The American Red Cross hopes people will encourage friends and family to give blood even if they cannot.

To make a donation appointment, call 1-800-RED CROSS (1-800-733-2767).

On Jan. 21, the American Red Cross will host the 100th Anniversary Blood Drive from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. at Union Station. Cheryl Scott and Hosea Sanders of ABC7 Eyewitness News will be in attendance. For more information about the 100th Anniversary Blood Drive, click here.