Gift of Life Marathon

11/01/2025

As usual, nice coverage of an important event from Peg-TV!

A new monument was unveiled in downtown Rutland featuring three local residents whose dedication and inspiration to the community are unmatched.

10/29/2025

Nice story this morning on Monday’s sculpture unveiling! Watch for coming details on the 2025 GOLM!

10/29/2025

Just a few shots from Monday’s unveiling of the new GOLM sculpture!

10/29/2025

10/28/2025

We were so excited to have a lot of volunteers and staff from the American Red Cross in attendance for yesterday’s sculpture unveiling in Rutland! Check out the dates for this year’s Gift of Life Marathon, which is in honor of Dawn Carlson!

The piece was unveiled Monday to honor the community's accomplishment

10/28/2025

If you missed yesterday’s Rutland Sculpture Trail unveiling, check out this great coverage from Channel 5!

The piece was unveiled Monday to honor the community's accomplishment

10/27/2025

Today the Rutland Sculpture Trail unveiled the 14th sculpture on the trail, and it celebrates the Gift of Life Marathon!

From artist Evan Morse‘s description of his connection to Rutland and the blood drive, to having Bobby Poquette, Stefanie Schaffer, and the Ojala family there, each of them representing an important part of the Gift of Life Marathon, it was really special.

Bobby represented blood donors, having overcome a major fear of needles to become a regular donor for the Red Cross! Mary Ojala represents volunteers, as she continued to volunteer at the Gift of Life until she was 100 years old! And Stef, who overcame unfathomable odds to survive a horrific accident and live an incredible, meaningful, and inspiring life, represents blood recipients, having been saved by blood donors she’ll never know. She’s also become an incredible ambassador for the blood drive.

The sculpture is dedicated to Tom Huebner, the former CEO of Rutland Regional Medical Center, who was an early and strong supporter of the drive. Huge thanks to Terry Jaye of Catamount Radio and Steve Costello from GMP, who helped make the drive what it became, a national record-setting blood drive and a huge community builder! More than a decade after setting the one-day national blood drive record, the record still stands!

The sculpture was funded by Green Mountain Power, Chamber & Economic Development of the Rutland Region, Rutland Regional Medical Center, Betsy and Jim Reddy, Sue and John Casella, Killington Resort, the Ojala Family, MKF Properties and the city of Rutland.

Special thanks to trail partners MKF Properties, GMP, Vermont Quarries, and the Carving Studio & Sculpture Center, Carol Driscoll and Noel Sinozich, and Mayor Mike Doenges and April Cioffi for all their help.

10/23/2025

Just a quick reminder that the Gift of Life Marathon will be celebrated on Monday at noon with the unveiling of the newest artwork on the Rutland Sculpture Trail. The noon event will be in the Center Street Marketplace across from City Hall.

The sculpture designed and carved by Evan Morse, features local people associated with the GOLM, Mary Ojala, Bobby Poquette and Stefanie Schaffer, representing blood donors, volunteers and recipients, respectively. The sculpture will be dedicated to Tom Huebner, who as Rutland Regional Medical Center president was an early and strong supporter of the GOLM.

All community members are invited to attend the unveiling of the sculpture, which celebrates Rutland’s 2013 national record for blood donations - which still stands!

07/10/2025

It’s amazing what happens BEFORE a blood drive can happen! From planning to marketing to recruiting, there is an awful lot of work that goes into a successful drive! This video shows just the hour or so before the drive as staff and volunteers prepare to serve donors at the Elks Club in honor of Pete Giancola.

07/07/2025

The Red Cross today issued an urgent plea for donors - and Tuesday’s Pete Giancola Mini Gift of Life Marathon is the perfect opportunity to help! The full release is here:

Red Cross: Make an immediate difference by giving blood or platelets now
Donation appointments critical to keeping blood supply ready

BURLINGTON, Vt., July 7, 2025 — The American Red Cross urges all donors to give blood or platelets now to keep the blood supply strong this summer. Type O blood products are most needed on hospital shelves – especially in the face of summer challenges that can quickly cause blood and platelet reserves to drop.

In addition to summer fun and holidays, severe summer weather can have a sudden impact on the ability to collect blood and platelets. Scheduling and keeping donation appointments are crucial this month to ensure blood products are constantly available in the weeks to come for all patients, including those in trauma situations that may require several lifesaving transfusions.

All blood types are needed, and donors who don’t know their blood type can learn it after donation. Book a time to give blood or platelets by visiting RedCrossBlood.org, calling 1-800-RED CROSS or by using the Red Cross Blood Donor App.

For donors in the Rutland area, there is a unique opportunity to donate blood tomorrow, July 9, at the Mini Gift of Life Marathon Blood Drive in memory of Rutland resident Peter Giancola. Giancola, a beloved father, musician and business owner relied on countless blood donors in the last 10 years of his life. Giancola died in March 2020 after a 10-year battle with cancer.

This year, the Giancola family is hoping to collect 200 pints of lifesaving blood. There are still dozens of appointments available, especially at the Franklin Event Center location. To make an appointment to donate, call 1-800-RED CROSS (1-800-733-2767) or visit RedCrossBlood.org and use the sponsor code "MINIGIFT."

As a thank-you, all who come to give by July 14, 2025, will receive an exclusive pair of Red Cross x goodr sunglasses, while supplies last. Donors can personalize their one-of-a-kind shades with a blood type sticker that’s included! For details, visit RedCrossBlood.org/goodr.

For those who come to give July 15-31, 2025, the Red Cross will say thanks with a Fandango Movie Reward by email. Use it to catch a summer blockbuster on the Red Cross! See RedCrossBlood.org/July.

07/04/2025

Wonderful story on WCAX about the upcoming sculpture, honoring the Gift of Life Marathon, its donors, volunteers, and blood recipients! The need for blood never ends! You can help July 8 in Rutland!

The city’s Sculpture Trail has a new installation in the works honoring three volunteers who led the way to a national record.