DECATUR, Ala. (WHNT) — Your birthday is supposed to be all about you, but one woman in Decatur chooses to make it about saving the lives of others.
“It’s a party with a purpose,” said Angeleck Williams. “So, we’re here doing something very serious, but then we have a lot of fun afterwards.”
She calls it her “birthday blood drive,” and she likes to celebrate with the entire community.
“When I met her, she said, ‘Have you ever given blood?’” said Mike Olejnick. “I hadn’t, but I always wanted to, so this was a good reason for me to come out and do it.”
People from all walks of Angeleck’s life, including friends, family, coworkers, former bosses, and even complete strangers, showed up to donate.
Although the party wasn’t always this big.
“Year one, we had 42 donors, and we were doing this at my office in the conference room, and that was our party room,” said Williams. “Now, 14 years later, we are at the center. We have the whole center to donate at as well as both buses out front, because we have so many donors.”
Now, there is a theme, food, door prizes, and she’s trying to reach 200 donations.
“It is a community event in so many ways, not just people who donate blood, but just everything that comes along with that to get this party the way it is today,” Williams said.
LifeSouth said blood donations are especially critical during the summer months, so they are lucky to have someone as passionate as Angeleck helping their team.
“She realizes the importance of it, and 14 years ago decided that this was going to be the way she gave back,” said Jody St. John.
She is a regional manager for LifeSouth.
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