SPRINGFIELD, Missouri – Dr. Don Tosh, professor of mathematics at Evangel University, recently gave his 500th blood donation to the American Red Cross. The majority of these donations were achieved through apheresis, a process in which the blood is centrifuged, platelets are removed, and red blood cells are returned to the donor.
“I started donating shortly after I came to Springfield in 1987 and have been donating regularly ever since,” Tosh said. “Blood donations are selfless gifts, since the recipient doesn’t know who the donor is and cannot repay the gift.”
While donors are only allowed six whole blood donations per year, they may give blood through apheresis 24 times per year. Tosh was able to reach the 500 donation milestone through a combination of these two methods.
“Apheresis is special in that many of the recipients are leukemia patients going through a tough time,” Tosh said. “As a Christian I really like the idea of helping someone at such a difficult point in their lives. I encourage everyone to donate blood if they are able.”
“It is very rare for someone to reach this level of donations,” said Stacy Burks, executive director of American Red Cross of Southern Missouri. “In our American Red Cross data, we show less than 1% of donors have given 500+ units. That equates to approximately 5,000 people in the U.S.”
To learn more about the American Red Cross, visit RedCrossBlood.org.
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Evangel University, with its embedded Assemblies of God Theological Seminary (AGTS), is a comprehensive Spirit-led Christian university located in Springfield, Missouri. It is regionally accredited by the Higher Learning Commission and a member of the Council for Christian Colleges and Universities. Under the leadership of Dr. Mike Rakes, EU is committed to excellence in educating and equipping students to serve the Church and society globally and becoming compassionate innovators in their chosen vocations. EU offers more than 70 degree programs, including cutting-edge majors, pre-professional programs, and affordable and flexible online degree options.
EU is highly regarded and has been ranked:
- #1 Best College in Springfield & #2 Best Christian College in Missouri by Niche
- US News & World Report Best Colleges Top Performer in Social Mobility
- Colleges of Distinction Best Christian University
- Top 10 Best Universities by AcademicInfluence.com
- Third Most Beautiful Campus in the Midwest by Christian Colleges & Universities
- Top 10 Best Colleges in Missouri by BestColleges.com
With additional accreditations in business, counseling, music, social work, and theology and certification as an Excellence in Giving university, EU is focused on providing students with hands-on experience and real-world training for today’s professional careers. Learn more about the university at evangel.edu.