After Gary Mirliss passed away from leukemia at age 50, his family pondered how to best honor his memory and give back to the hospitals that cared for him during his illness. They decided an annual blood and bone marrow registry drive would be the most valuable thing they could do, and it would also epitomize Gary’s outlook on life: always try to help others.
Greg Mirliss, Gary’s son, said that in the last twelve years the annual blood drive has collected 965 units of blood and has registered 103 bone marrow donors. He estimates over 3,000 people have benefitted from the drive, since one unit of blood can help 4 children or 2 adults. This year, the Mirliss family hopes to add another 200 units to the tally.
“If we surpass it, that’s great,” said Greg Mirliss. “But collecting even one unit, in my mind, is just as important as collecting 200.”
The family chose early January for the first blood drive, because at the time the Mirliss children—Greg and his sister Emily--were on holiday break from high school and college. January is also officially known as National Blood Donor Month. Statistically, blood supplies are low this month, due to the holidays and seasonal illnesses like the flu.
That first January blood drive was successful, and the drive has grown larger each year since. Held at KP Middle School, the blood drive has become a popular annual event and reunion of sorts, says Mirliss. Food is served all day long, and donors catch up with friends and neighbors.
“Our drive is not your standard drive,” said Mirliss. “People stay all day. It’s a different atmosphere. A lot of Dad’s classmates from Milton High School’s Class of 1969 come, including the class president. Some of them can’t donate any longer, but they still come. It’s fun. My dad wouldn’t want this not to be fun.”
Gary Mirliss was treated at Brigham and Women’s Hospital and Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, undergoing a bone marrow transplant and numerous transfusions during the course of his illness. Those two institutions, along with Boston Children’s Hospital, are the recipients of the annual blood drive.
Greg Mirliss has run blood drives for his father’s memorial foundation at other times, too, because he says the hospitals are in constant need of blood. In fact, the hospitals know they can count on the Mirliss family when their blood supplies run low. After the Boston Marathon bombing, Greg Mirliss was contacted by Brigham and Women’s the very next day to quickly put in place a blood drive if necessary.
Mirliss says the annual blood drive at KP Middle School is a good way to start the new year and an easy resolution to keep.
“People know it’s the first Saturday of the year. They put it on their calendar and it becomes their thing. It’s really turning into something that people look forward to. My dad would love that,” reflected Mirliss. “Community, friendships, family were so important to him. And this is really a way to bring it all together. I think he’d be really proud.”
The 13th annual Gary Mirliss Memorial Blood and Bone Marrow Registry Drive will be held on January 7 from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. at King Philip Middle School. Appointments are recommended, but walk-ins are welcome. Visit www.halfpints.childrenshospital.org and use the sponsor code MIRLISS to schedule an appointment. A pancake breakfast, lunchtime pizza, and an ice cream social will be served to donors.
Issue Date:
December, 2016
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