Overwhelming Turnout For Albini Blood Drive

Sonora, CA — You can sum up the Mother Lode community response to the two-day Jim Albini blood drive at the Elks Lodge in a single word; overwhelming!

That was the Wednesday comment from Ric Mathiesen of the Delta Blood Bank. According to Mathiesen, 190 units of blood were donated in Albini´s name during the opening day (Tuesday) of the two day blood drive.

The drive was scheduled to close at 2PM Wednesday, but there were many waiting in line to donate and none were turned away in this tremendous response.

In addition to the blood drive, a car wash fundraiser for the Albini family is scheduled for Saturday from 9am to 4:30pm in the parking lot between Wal Mart and Mervyn´s. That fundraiser has been organized by Class of 2005 Sonora High School graduate Marina Cooper.

Albini remains in critical condition in the burn unit of the U.C. Davis Medical Center. He was injured when a propane tank exploded in his pickup truck. The loss of the truck, the family home and all personal items has been estimated at $600,000.

Written by Bill Johnson