New Sculpture Commemorates the Gift of Life Marathon

by Lafe Low, Red Cross communications volunteer

The renowned Rutland Sculpture Trail has a unique new entry. This new sculpture doesn’t commemorate a single famous person. Instead, this sculpture celebrates the 2013 Gift of Life Marathon blood drive, which broke the national record for most units of blood donated in a single day.

“2,350 pints of blood in a town of 15,000 people in one day—that record was set thirteen years ago, and we still hold that record,” says Steve Costello, who organized the record-breaking 2013 blood drive and continues to work with the American Red Cross. Steve is also a coordinator of the Rutland Sculpture Trail.

“The sculpture trail is kind of an organic creature. How each piece comes to life is really an interesting story,” he says. “And one of the keys is to have a great story behind the sculpture.”

There is certainly a powerful story behind the sculpture celebrating the Gift of Life Marathon. Steve and other members of the Rutland community realized the value and the potential of the Gift of Life marathon; not only as a blood drive, but as a force to help build community spirit. “It became an event where people turned out not just to donate blood and save lives, but to help build this community’s reputation, to do something special together, and to really build a sense of community,” says Steve.

There is even a documentary film that describes the event, and how it came to be such a powerful force. “Someone said I should watch the documentary, ‘The Blood is in This Town,’ about the Gift of Life marathon. And I watched it, and I was brought to tears a few times because it was so touching,” says sculptor Evan Morse. “It made me really realize how much I care about this community.”

When Steve mentioned to Evan the possibility of creating a sculpture to commemorate the Gift of Life Marathon, he naturally jumped at the chance. Evan, who has done other sculptures for the Rutland Sculpture Trail, says this is the first sculpture he also had the privilege of designing.

“Steve wanted to feature these three remarkable people Mary, Bobby, and Stefanie,” says Evan. These three people have been a significant part of the story and the Rutland community; Gift of Life organizer Mary O’Gorman who lived to be 100 years old and was still actively volunteering, well-known local volunteer and blood donor Bobby Paquette, and Stefanie Schaffer, who was injured in an accident in the Bahamas eight years ago and has become a staunch advocate for blood donation.

Evan describes the sculpture’s composition. “These three people tell the parts of the story. Mary is shown organizing. She’s seated at a table where someone is signing up to donate. Bobby is next, being prepped [to donate blood]. There are two people hugging in the background. This represents giving and receiving,” he explains. “Next, we see Stephanie. She’s a blood recipient. She has been sharing her story to inspire others
to donate.”

Evan further explains the shape of the sculpture. “So why did I choose the column? It allows for the story to be continuous. After Stephanie, it circles back around. She’s speaking to a crowd, and then we see a volunteer from the audience signing up to donate at Mary’s table. It’s a reminder that it’s an ongoing story. There’s a constant need for blood donors and for volunteers. And it’s about this cycle of giving. There’s no clear beginning or end. It’s a continuous thing.”

Mary’s story continues to have a profound impact. “Mary lived to 100 years old, and she was still volunteering at the Gift of Life marathon at the age of 100—unbelievable story. In fact, some of my favorite photos from the Gift of Life marathon featured both Bobby and Mary together for her one hundredth birthday,” says Steve. “Someone asked her what she wanted for her birthday. She said, ‘I want people to donate blood at a Gift of Life Marathon.”

Stefanie’s story carries a heavy weight as well. “She’s alive because of blood donors, because of heroic actions from members of her own family, and from her sheer will to live. She is the one of the most determined people I’ve ever met; one of the strongest people I’ve ever met,” he says. “And as far as getting people to donate blood, she is one of the most powerful influencers I’ve ever seen in any form in telling the story of the Red Cross and the need for blood donation.”

The 2025 Gift of Life Marathon blood drive will be held in Rutland in two phases on December 9th and 10th and again on December 19th and 20th. To make an appointment to donate, call 1-800-RED CROSS (1-800-733-2767), visit RedCrossBlood.org or download the American Red Cross Blood Donor App. Use Sponsor Code: GOLM2025