Bruins Give Blood In Honor Of Boston Victims
UCLA's Undergraduate Students Association Council held a blood drive and commemorative walk Tuesday to honor the victims of the Boston Marathon bombings.
"Even though we're three thousand miles away, we still have such a connection to the people in Boston," said David Bocarsly, UCLA student association president.
The day started in Bruin Plaza at 11 a.m., where participants wrote letters to victims, families, first responders and rescuers at the scene.
Boston resident Alexi Taylor-Ko feels a sense of community in southern california as her peers take action to help the victims.
"Whatever support we can get is really nice, just to know that everyone is thinking of us and that just really everyone knows what is going on and doing their best to support us," said the UCLA first-year.
Anees Hanain, Community Service Commission of UCLA, said the letters will be sent to someone in Boston who will distribute the notes to the mayoral office and to community representatives.
After the letter-writing campaign, students took a walk through campus that symbolized those who finished the marathon and continued to run to nearby hospitals to donate blood for victims affected by the explosions. Students were then encouraged to donate blood.
Reed Vierra, a second-year Bruin, felt compelled to donate blood.
"I think it's important that people understand that civil service of donating what they can when they're healthy and young," said the psychology student.
The blood drive will be open from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. in the UCLA Blood and Platelet Center in Ackerman Union. All donations will benefit patients at the Ronald Reagan Medical Center.
"We have sixty-three [people] donating here today and a drive all week, that impact is tremendous for our local community," said Bocarsly. "It's great that we can rally around a cause and say that, as Americans, we are here to support one another."
The Bruins have also created the hashtag #bruinsforboston to publicize their campaign.
"You can even see people come together really quickly to support each other," said Taylor-Ko. "I think that, in Boston too, it makes you reflect on things that are going on around the world and at home."
