Tuesday, August 29, 2017

VERSAILLES BLOOD DRIVE TO HONOR DONOR STEVE KNAPKE

SEPT. 18 BLOOD DRIVE IN MEMORY OF HIS DUTY, GRATITUDE

Versailles donor Steve Knapke.
VERSAILLES, Ohio - The family of Versailles blood donor Steve Knapke will partner with the Versailles Poultry Days Committee in sponsoring a blood drive in his memory on Monday, Sept. 18 from 12:30 p.m. to 7 p.m. in the Versailles Knights of Columbus Hall, 8448 St. Rt. 47.

Community Blood Center encourages donors to schedule an appointment online at www.DonorTime.com or call 1-800-388-GIVE.

Steve was inspired to become a blood donor after surviving a 1988 accident caused by an impaired truck driver. He suffered a head injury and received blood transfusions. He later became a platelet donor and totaled 81 lifetime donations.

“He felt it was very important to donate because he was given blood that saved his life,” said Steve’s daughter, Rachel Durham. “When he was well enough, he wanted to give back. He felt like it was his duty to help others by donating his blood, his way of saying thank you.”

Steve was the victim of another accident on Sept. 11, 2016 that claimed his life. He and his wife, Lois, were struck by an impaired driver driving at an excessive speed. The Knapke’s vehicle flipped twice, Steve was killed instantly, and Lois survived miraculously with a broken back.

The Knapke family is passionate about continuing Steve’s legacy of giving blood by encouraging others to donate when possible. They believe a sure way to help save lives is by supporting blood donations and with the Steve Knapke Memorial Blood Drive.

“It’s important that we carry on this tradition for him because it was one of his missions,” Rachel said. “We want to remember him by that. We want to do it in his honor. He did so many good things in his life, and this was one of them. He was very passionate about it.”

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