Jacob Fox might be considered slight in stature. His 5-foot-4-inch frame holds just 112 pounds. His size is used to his advantage as he coxwains the men's varsity rowing boats at Oklahoma City University.
However, it has been a stumbling block for something Fox has found a newfound passion in – donating blood to the American Red Cross.
Fox, a sophomore from Egg Harbor Township, N.J., is starting off the year with more than just books and study sessions for his kinesiology classes. He’s beginning the year with donation posters, organizing a blood drive as part of his role in the American Red Cross/NAIA Collegiate Leadership Program.
His first blood drive on the OCU campus will be this Thursday from 1-5 p.m. at the Freede Center.
Fox was one of 13 selected for the scholarship program in the spring, and as part of the program participated in two weeks of intensive training at the headquarters of the American Red Cross in Washington, D.C. this summer. As part of his training, Fox had the pleasure of giving blood for the first time.
“I was never able to donate blood as a kid,” Fox remembers. “Even in high school I was always too light and too small, they would never allow me to donate, and I just felt that I was not doing my part. So I got really passionate about this just for the simple fact that I felt like I wasn’t contributing enough.”
As a high school wrestler, Fox didn’t meet the weight requirements of 110 pounds. And even today, he just meets the mark to be able to donate to the program that he has become passionate about.
Along with becoming a first-time blood donor, Fox came in contact with some people that have strengthened his resolve to become an ambassador for the Red Cross.
Brian Boyle, blood donation recipient, Ironman triathlete and author of “The Iron Heart,” shared his testimonial with the group assembled in D.C. His story further cemented Fox’s desire to be called into action for this worthy and necessary cause.
“To me, I really didn’t see the need to give blood until I went to this program,” said Fox. “I didn’t really know how much of a demand there really was for it until I met a young guy named Brian Boyle. At the age of 17, he was in a very serious car accident and he actually needed around 36 blood transfusions. Just hearing his story was really heartbreaking and really upsetting, but at the same time really inspirational.”
Along with getting inspiration from Boyle, he found a new focus from his roommate and fellow participant in the Red Cross/NAIA Collegiate Leadership Program, Hannah Malak, student-body president at Menlo College (Calif.). Fox will continue on his drive to bring awareness into action by following the ideas of Malak, and heading up organization efforts for a Red Cross Club on the OCU campus.
If Fox succeeds in recruiting enough members to form the club, he will be helping with more than just an occasional blood drive for the Red Cross.
“We will be responsible for holding the blood drives, and we will have a disaster relief program, which is basically going to be focused on those who have been affected by tornadoes in our area,” Fox said of the club’s focus. “Also, we will be helping the homeless, because we have a large homeless population here, and we will be hosting more than just two blood drives, we would be trying to get up to four.”
But until his work towards a club is realized, Fox will continue to stump for the Red Cross, organizing blood drives, trying to find people to donate and extolling the virtues of saving lives through blood.
“Just doing this blood drive alone, it really kind of shows me how much work goes into it and you kind of appreciate what everyone else goes through,” Fox said. “I appreciate everyone who comes in, and takes the time to donate.
“With one blood donation you can save up to three lives,” Fox stresses. “If you had the chance, the opportunity of saving someone’s life, why not do it. Why not take 30 minutes out of your time to save someone else’s life.”
For more information on Thursday’s blood drive, click here.
