Wheeling man runs to bring in blood donations
By SHELLEY HANSONArticle Photos
Starting at 2 a.m. Sunday, Wheeling resident Jason Bracher-Musty will run and bike 50 miles around Ohio County in eight hours to "raise the red" for the American Red Cross.
While serving in Iraq protecting U.S. generals, the Briton saw firsthand how important it is to have blood ready at a moment's notice.
After moving to Wheeling with his wife Nicole, who works as an American Red Cross representative, he has noticed the constant need for blood donations here, too. Though he would like to donate blood himself, because of Red Cross restrictions, Bracher-Musty currently is not permitted to give due to his world travels as a British Military Police officer.
Since he cannot give, he is asking others to do so instead during a blood drive from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday at Generations Pub and Restaurant's banquet room, 336 National Road, Wheeling. Bracher-Musty estimates his combination run-bike marathon will end at Generations between 11 a.m. and noon. The drive's goal is 100 units of blood.
"We have all experienced or know of someone who is close who had cancer or experienced a severe injury - the list is endless," he said in a news release. "There is so much stress that is suffered waiting for that loved one to pull through and survive. Now is the time we all need to come together and personally give our bit to 'raise the red' as the Red Cross says. This is something that is not taken for granted."
Ohio County Sheriff's Chief Deputy Pat Butler will escort Butler during the run, which will kick off in front of Bracher-Musty's Washington Avenue home. He is encouraging people to cheer him along the route.
The first leg includes Mount de Chantal Road, National Road West, W.Va. 2 south, Stone Shannon Road, Clearview Road, Short Creek Road and W.Va. 88 back to National Road.
The second leg includes National Road east, Bow Street, Baker Street, back to National Road. From there the second leg will be in reverse: W.Va. 88 to Short Creek Road to Clearview Avenue hill, then Stone Shannon Road, to W.Va. 2 through Warwood. He will finish by coming down Wheeling Hill to Generations.
There will also be some giveaways to presenting donors, while supplies last, such as "Run for Blood" T-shirts and coupons. There also will be a raffle to win a $2,400 gas card.
