When you meet blood donor Dennis Gelvin, “intense” isn’t the first word that comes to mind. He’s slim and taller than average, with a well-groomed mustache, and is soft-spoken and humble.
It’s only after you talk to him for a bit that you realize: this kind retiree doesn’t do anything part way.
It seems like the only time Dennis sits down is when he donates platelets at Bloodworks’ Olympia Donor Center.
Dennis made his first blood donation in the 1960s.
I’m a land surveyor, and the first guy I worked for just started this business. So we had several days off on occasion, and I would go looking around for something to do. And I don’t know if somebody had an ad in the papers or something talking about it. I said, ‘oh, I can try that.’
He started donating platelets after he retired for the simple reason that he the older he got, the longer it took for his body to recover from a whole blood donation, which impacted his marathon training. He’s now donated more than 560 units of blood and platelets… and run more than 50 marathons.
See? Dennis doesn’t do anything part way!
Dennis’ other main hobby is philately (pronounced ‘fill-at-uhh-lee’): stamp collecting. He’s secretary of the Olympia Philatelic Society.
While philately is, in Dennis’ words, “the nickel term for stamp collector,” his interest lies in covers (envelopes used when cancelling a stamp) and cachets (the images, illustrations, text, or even stickers on these envelopes).
He first got into philately as a way to teach history to his grandchildren.
When I started this years and years ago, I would send these off to the grandkids when they were little kids. And thinking, well, a lot of these cover history, the topic and explanation of it.
As a philatelic blood donor, Dennis put together an exhibit of blood-related stamps and postal ephemera for his fellow philatelists. Because, no matter what topic you are interested in,
There’s a bunch of different stamps out there, and you can find them.
Dennis’ reason for donating blood is simple.
My concept of donating blood is, I’ve always figured that if you enjoy the advantages of a given civilization, you really should put something back to it.
And blood donation has always been my concept of of a public service. It’s why I do it.
Hear more from Dennis on our podcast, Bloodworks 101.
Tell Us What You Think!