UCF hosts One Pulse blood drive to honor the 49 victims

Saturday will mark five years since the Pulse nightclub shooting in Orlando and on Wednesday, an event was held at the University of Central Florida to honor the 49 lives lost as well as the survivors.

ORLANDO, Fla. - Saturday will mark 5 years since the Pulse nightclub shooting in Orlando and on Wednesday, an event will honor the 49 lives lost as well as the survivors.

A blood drive is being held at the UCF Student Union starting at 9 a.m. There are two locations for the drive -- the campus student union and at the campus police department so law enforcement members can donate.

"I just feel like I can give and there’s a lot of people who need it," student Adedoyin Adepegba said. "So, I mean, why not?"

The blood drive is being hosted by the UCF’s police department, its LGBTQ services, and One Blood.

The drive is an opportunity for students to give back and honor the victims of the Pulse nightclub shooting.

"That was a sad day and whatever we can do to remember the impact that actually made, that's really good because we just want to remember," Adepegba said.

A student and an alumnus of the university died in that shooting five years ago.

The drive will be held from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. All of the blood donated will go to cancer and trauma patients.

OneBlood says that blood supply is low right now because of the pandemic.

"We’ve seen a major drop off with blood donations and the truth of the matter is, we’re not prepared for another event like Pulse to happen," Christian Jordan with OneBlood said. "The blood supply isn’t there unfortunately."

People who donated received a Pulse remembrance shirt, a 20 dollar gift card an a wellness check that included covid-19 anti body testing.

UCF is hosting several events this week to mark the five year anniversary of the Pulse shooting. On Thursday night, a vigil will be held at 7 p.m. inside the student union.

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