Gail Singer’s Legacy Drive: One family’s mission to help the Red Cross save lives for 40+ years

By Jennifer Costa, regional communications director

“I wouldn’t miss this for the world.”

Debbie Perron, donor

Debbie Perron is a former EMT and 10-gallon blood donor. Every year, she rolls up her sleeve at the Gail Singer Memorial Blood Drive, New Hampshire’s largest and longest-running drive. 

“It’s a New Hampshire tradition,” says Ed Ithier, another long-time donor, and Singer family friend.

For more than four decades, the Singer family has hosted this drive in memory of the late Gail Singer who passed away from leukemia in 1984. The young mother was just 29 years old. Now in its 41st year, the Gail Singer Memorial Blood Drive has collected nearly 30,000 pints of lifesaving blood. Debbie has made it to 39 of those drives. 

“I was in the medical field for a long time,” she says. “I saw the need and I saw the recipients. It’s just something I have to do. I’ve also recruited a lot of donors over the years.”

“We’ve all had friends, family or people we know who have needed blood. It’s very important that we have these blood drives. We are saving lives,” Ithier says who has donated more than 15 gallons of blood. “The Singer family has done a great job to keep the tradition going, to get people to come out. My hope is that people don’t just give at this drive, but give continuously because the impact is immense.”

The Gail Singer Memorial Blood Drive is held every August in Manchester, at a time when it’s particularly difficult to collect blood – and this year was no exception. Just days before the drive, the American Red Cross declared an emergency blood shortage after the national blood supply plummeted by 25% in July. Dangerous levels of heat, travel and summer activities contributed to a shortfall of more than 19,000 blood donations across the country. Then the devastation of Hurricane Debby in early August further complicated efforts to rebuild the blood supply.  

“The Red Cross was working around-the-clock to meet the needs of patients, but blood products were 
going out to hospitals faster than blood donations were coming in, rapidly drawing down the blood supply,” says Stephanie Couturier, CEO, Red Cross Northern New England Region. “Blood is perishable and cannot be stockpiled in advance, but the Red Cross blood supply can be replenished when generous volunteers roll up a sleeve to give.”

“I want to hug every single blood donor there is. It means that I can stay out of a wheelchair,” says Sharon Curole, of Manchester.

Sharon Curole, blood recipient

Curole is a Multiple Sclerosis survivor, thriving because a treatment that comes from a donated blood products. 

“Understand what it means if there’s no blood,” she says. “Imagine being in the hospital and being told that you need a blood transfusion, but sadly, they are out of your type of blood. It’s devastating. How do we remedy that? You come here. You donate. And every chance you get, when you are allowed and able, you donate blood.”

Curole was one of dozens of Red Cross volunteers who gave more than 600 hours to ensure the success of this year's drive – and what a success it was. More than 1,100 donors turned out over the two days. Through their generosity, the Red Cross was able to collect 1,058 pints of lifesaving blood in the midst of a national blood shortage! 

Stephen Singer, drive organizer

“We look forward to this drive every year, knowing that we are helping our community and supporting the medical professionals working so hard to save lives,” says Stephen Singer, the drive’s founder and planning chair. “We cannot thank the people of New Hampshire enough for their loyal support over the years – and we’re so proud that Granite State donors answered the call again this year, helping us to surpass our goal by nearly 60 pints!” 

Every two seconds someone in the U.S. needs a blood transfusion, yet only three percent of the population donates. That’s why recruiting new donors is so critical to the stability of the blood supply – something that patients, like Curole, know all too well. The Red Cross was proud to welcome 140 first-time donors to this year’s drive.

Mayor Jay Ruais & Sharonlee Webster

"This means the world to me. I am so grateful for every single person who lets a needle go into their arm for blood donation. It’s amazing," Curole says.

“I’ve been wanting to donate blood for a while, but I hadn’t found the right time and chance to do it,” says Heinn Aung.

While not a first-time donor, the Gail Singer drive marked Aung’s first-time donating in the United States. He says it was such a positive experience that he’s already planning his next appointment in eight weeks when it’s safe to give again.

“I love the enthusiasm of this drive and the volunteers,” says Aung. “It’s amazing to see everyone coming together to do something good. I think I’ll probably donate again on my birthday.”

Dr. Greg Baxter, Elliot Hospital

Pulling off a drive of this magnitude is no small feat – and requires staff from multiple states. For Red Cross phlebotomist Sharonlee Webster, this year’s drive is especially emotional.

“I just lost my son,” she says. “The amount of blood that it took to keep him where he was at the moment was huge. Until it hits home, you don’t realize just how much donated blood helps.”

“To do it for 40 years, for a cause that is absolutely necessary, is unbelievable,” says Bob Singer, Gail brother-in-law, who’s only missed one drive in 41 years. 

Stephen and Michael Singer

For the Singers, this drive started from a place of grief and has blossomed into a force of positivity and generosity, rallying not only the Singer family, but an entire city around doing good.

“It’s been an amazing day. We are very happy with the turnout,” says Michael Singer, Gail’s son who now co-chairs the drive with his uncle. “The blood drive is about keeping my mother’s memory alive, but it’s also about saving lives. The goal is to save as many people as we can.”

Since each donation saves at least one life, the Singer family’s passion has helped save tens of thousands of lives, with no signs of slowing down any time soon, according to Michael.

“It’s always about making it bigger. It’s always about making it better. It’s always about keeping people engaged and understanding why they keep coming back,” he says.

Whether it’s for the famous Gail Singer donor goody bags, t-shirt and food or a passion to help patients in need, we’re sure grateful the Granite State is full of generous people, including our community sponsors, like the Elliot Hospital, and all the local vendors who together make this magical blood drive possible year after year.

SLIDESHOW: Thank you, Gail Singer 2024 Donors!

The blood supply remains fragile after August's emergency shortage. Now is the time to book an appointment and help patients counting on lifesaving transfusions. To schedule a time to give blood or platelets, visit RedCrossBlood.org, call 1-800-RED CROSS or use the Red Cross Blood Donor App.