More than 100 donors turned out for a Red Cross blood drive dedicated to Windham Police Officer Matt Cyr at the Windham High School on Tuesday.
Cyr, who lost 20 units of blood while fighting to keep his life while doctors operated on his leg after an accidental gunshot wound to the leg, was able to attend the blood drive.
Local residents, town officials, local police officers and Sheriff deputies waited in long lines to give blood, sometimes up to an hour.
“This has been the nicest thing I’ve seen,” said Cyr, who still is walking around on crutches and must undergo physical therapy because of the severe leg wound. “The support the community of Windham gives back is amazing.”
The Red Cross has seen a “critical” shortage in blood supply this year because many blood drives were canceled because of extreme summer heat across the country. This “blood deficit” for the Northeast Division is now at 3,090 units of blood, so the need for donors is more important than ever.
Coordinating volunteer Irene Andrews was thrilled by the turnout for the blood drive dedicated to Cyr.
“Everything we do is made possible by volunteers,” Andrews said. “We’re reliant on people and the people have come out in force for this blood drive.”
Officer Matthew Cyr stands beside Windham resident Kristen Brown as she gives blood last week to the Red Cross during a blood drive dedicated to the local police officer.Send questions/comments to the editors.
