Man injured as a child now runs to raise Red Cross, blood donation awareness
CHICAGO (WLS) -- A traumatic experience as a child has motivated Steven Paluck to donate blood and raise awareness for the Red Cross for more than 15 years.
Paluck was about 1 year old when he was attacked by a dog.
"I walked a little too far down to a neighbor's fence and they had a dog and the dog bit through the fence and attacked me. I suffered severe cuts and bite marks on hands, my feet but mainly my face and my skull," he said.
His injuries resulted in three hours of emergency surgery and nine hours of reconstructive plastic surgery. He says if it weren't for the doctors and those who donated blood he would not be here today.
"It's incredibly humbling, I mean this is the most humbling experience you can get from someone. Someone selflessly gave blood and saved my life. I don't know what I would do if people didn't donate blood. I don't know where I'd be or if I'd be alive," Paluck said.
After Paluck turned 17, he became a regular donor. Donating every 3-6 months, but when he decided to take the challenge of running the Chicago Marathon last year, he knew who he wanted to run in honor of.
"I immediately saw this bulletin that said for blood donations to raise money and I was like, that's it, that's what I want to do help them because they've helped me," Paluck said.
He raised nearly $3,000 running for the Red Cross but continues to raise awareness, knowing the need for blood donations is constant. He is already running and training to race again in this year's Chicago Marathon.
"It's something that we have to constantly replenish. If supply gets low we have to donate. It shouldn't take a disaster and to get people to donate. People should go out and donate every single time they have an opportunity. And help people in need," Paluck said.
The ABC 7 Great Chicago Blood Drive will be held Jan. 10 at two locations -- Merchandise Mart, 222 W. Merchandise Mart Plaza in Chicago; and at the Drake Oak Brook Hotel, 2301 York Rd. in Oak Brook. Hours at both sites are 7 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Register by calling 1-800-Red-Cross or by downloading the American Red Cross Blood Donor App, visiting redcrossblood.org (enter sponsor code: "ABC7Chicago")
