# @americanredcross on Instagram

- **Type:** Image
- **Original URL:** https://www.instagram.com/p/C6JgM5-uQUs
- **Gondola URL:** https://gondola.cc/posts/72590223-americanredcross-instagram
- **Thumbnail:** https://img.gondola.cc/tr:w-,h-,fo-auto/postThumbnails/75420cee54.jpg
- **Posted:** 2024-04-24T15:00:54.000+00:00
- **Account Owner:** American Red Cross (@americanredcross) — https://gondola.cc/americanredcross

## Caption

Todd Bavery’s journey to becoming a blood transportation specialist was fueled by a very personal experience: his own need for blood. In 2019, he was diagnosed with stage 3 prostate cancer and required blood transfusions while undergoing surgery.

“I was fortunate having been stage 3,” he said. “They got it all in the surgery, and I have had no reoccurrence.”

Being cancer-free and not wanting to wait until retirement to give back, Todd started training to become a blood transportation specialist with the RedCrossOfWisconsin early last year. Now, he plays a critical role in delivering blood donations to hospitals and patients, sometimes driving as far as Iowa.

One shift that has stuck with Todd was when the refrigerators went out at a University of Wisconsin hospital, putting all the blood they had in storage in peril. An urgent request came through the Red Cross, and he delivered 10 boxes of dry ice within 30 minutes.

Todd has dedicated more than 200 service hours with no plans to stop. In fact, he’s currently onboarding as a community volunteer liaison to contribute to the blood donor experience in his region on top of his usual duties as a blood transportation specialist.

“You really, truly are thanked,” Todd said. “You really feel valued as a volunteer in every interaction you have with employees and personnel.”

It’s because of volunteers like Todd that we can continue providing lifesaving blood to hospitals and patients in their times of need. This National Volunteer Week, we celebrate their dedication to serving our mission. Please join us in sharing appreciation in the comments!

#DonateBlood #GiveBlood #BloodDonor #DonateBloodSaveLives #GiveBloodSaveLives #ThankYouVolunteers #NationalVolunteerMonth #VolunteerWeek #NationalVolunteerWeek

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## Credits

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## Tags

givebloodsavelives, volunteerweek, thankyouvolunteers, nationalvolunteerweek, nationalvolunteermonth, blooddonor, giveblood, donateblood, donatebloodsavelives

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