Judy Matzke and David Gordon were honored by the volunteers of the Moore County Red Cross and the Red Cross Donation employees at the December blood drive held at First Health Moore Regional Hospital. Gordon has donated 10 gallons of blood, and Judy Matzke has donated 13 gallons.

Matzke, when asked about blood donations, smiles and says “Is there anything better than giving blood?”

Matzke was waiting to go through the process of attaining her thirteen gallon mark as she stated that what a  donor gets is a plus as her/his own personal medical health is benefited.  A familiar donor, who because of her dolphin jewelry is known by the Red Cross Blood Services staff as the Dolphin Lady, is a member of the Sandhills Community College Nursing Facility.  In that role, she encourages her students to become donors and has known to accompany them to the donation site.  One of Judy’s favorite sayings is: “What greater gift can you give someone; you save three lives with one pint of blood you donate.”

Gordon began donating blood at the age of 18 and has continued this gift of life through his adulthood and has now proudly given a minimum of ten gallons since 1997 when card records began.  Prior to that date, accurate records were not kept. Gordon began as an employee of Moore Regional Hospital in 1989 and has donated at the Hospital since then.  This father of three children and a stepchild states “giving blood is the best thing you can give as it saves lives”.  He states that Vicki Archibald, a former Moore Regional Hospital, was an inspiration as she encouraged employees to give blood and he attempts to duplicate her example.  Gordon, a member of Facility Management, further stated that “what it does (meaning giving blood) for the soul is tremendous”.