Gateway Technical College will host a blood drive 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. March 7 in honor of the late Johanna Pascoe, a Nursing graduate who died in a crash on her way to work at a local hospital just days after her Gateway Nurse pinning ceremony.
The event will be held in the Garden Room of the SC Johnson Student Life Center of the Lake Building on Gateway’s Racine Campus, 1001 S. Main St. The center can be accessed on the east side of the building through Door 34.
A friend of Johanna’s came up with the initial idea of a blood drive. Fellow students of Pascoe in Gateway’s Student Nurses Association asked for the college to host it, which will be held in partnership with Versiti/Blood Center of Wisconsin.
“We are humbled to honor Johanna. She had a passion for charity, and she also believed in organ donations and the lives that it saves,” said Gateway Technical College Dean of the School of Health Vicki Coyle.
“Students believe this blood drive is something that can also save lives, and they wanted to do it as a memorial to Johanna. They felt it was something she would have supported and they felt strongly that they wanted to do it.”
The blood drive has the ability to see nearly 80 donors, resulting in the potential to save nearly 240 lives.
“This means so much to us, I am grateful for this event and for everyone who will donate blood in Johanna’s memory,” said Elisha Pascoe, Johanna’s sister. “Johanna’s death was so unexpected, shocking, devastating. She believed deeply in helping people and lived her life that way. We thought this would be a great way to continue her legacy of caring for others.”
Nicole Leibhan, Versiti/Blood Center of Wisconsin account representative for donor recruitment, said it’s not unusual for the friends and families of someone who’s passed away to host a blood drive to give tribute to their life and impact their community.
“Nothing we at Versiti could say would have the same impact as what Johanna’s friends and family have already so beautifully shared about her,” said Leibhan. “Johanna was clearly a young woman with a kind and giving spirit, and we’re so honored to play a role in this effort by her friends and family to do something incredible for her community in her name.
“Their generosity in wanting to host a blood drive means so much to us and we’re grateful to be part of it.”
Appointments are encouraged and can be made by calling (877) 232-4376 or by visiting tinyurl.com/Johanna37.