Junior Brooke O’Connell donated her blood in honor of her grandpa who passed away due to kidney cancer.

“He went to the hospital each week to get blood,” O’Connell said. “Without the blood he received, he would have passed away a lot sooner than what he did.”

O’Connell chose to give blood for her hero and biggest fan. Before her experience, she wouldn’t have thought of giving blood because of her fear of needles and the pain that came with it. She made the choice to give blood during her basketball season even though it would make it hard for her to give 100 percent at practice.

“I donated during basketball season because I thought saving up to three lives or letting someone spend more time with a loved one is more important than any sport,” O’Connell said.