For Judy Socha, giving back through participating in blood drives is a way of life.
She has been involved in blood banking for 45 years and has no intention of slowing down. Socha’s son passed away at a young age after battling leukemia, and she saw firsthand the critical need for blood donations. So she decided to get involved and make a difference. She joined LifeSource, Chicagoland’s Blood Center, which is a nonprofit organization that provides blood products to the majority of the Chicago area. Socha helped bring blood drives to Addison Trail 45 years ago, as well as to the Village of Addison.
Thanks in part to Socha’s work, the Addison community was ranked No. 13 on LifeSource’s Top Donors list for 2015-16. And in recognition of her efforts in organizing more than 200 blood drives, Socha was recently named as an “Everyday Hero” by the Blackhawks.
“Our lives are filled with many memorable events, but unfortunately there also are times of crisis,” Socha said. “A serious illness, an accident or a surgery can be the greatest crisis of all, and if it requires blood, it can be devastating – because your life will now be in the hands of a stranger giving that pint. Blood is a special fluid that saves lives and only can come from people. It is the greatest of gifts that one person can give another. I hope to continue to spread the knowledge that blood donors are needed every day.”
