DECEMBER 6, 2024, UPDATE:
469 units of blood collected is the unofficial total of the 20th annual Tyler Wilcox Memorial Guns n’ Hoses Blood Drive held this week (Dec. 4-6, 2024) in Fort Pierre and Pierre.
The friendly contest between firefighters and law enforcement ended in a tie– 232 donors each for Team Guns and Team Hoses.
Tyler’s mom, Jeri Wilcox, says thinks a tie is a fun way to end the 20th annual event.
LifeServe Blood Center Territory Representative Abbie Arneson says because this three-day event is so big, they bring in staff from multiple locations to help draw the blood. But, she says, that means LifeServe can’t hold blood drives anywhere else in South Dakota during this three day event.
Blood donors’ names were entered into a drawing and one winner was selected each day, with the three names put into a hat to see who wins the three big prizes that were given away.
Winning the Grand Prize of a flat top grill with accessories from Karl’s TV and Appliance and a $50 gift card to Meier Meats in Fort Pierre ($750 value) was Shawn Szilvasi (Day 3). Winning the 2nd place prize of a $200 Walmart gift card and a $200 Dakotamart gift card was Libby Mills (Day 1). Taking home the 3rd place prize– a 65” flat screen TV from Walmart ($300 value)— was Melinda Orr (Day 2).
DECEMBER 6, 2024:
Day 2 of the 20th annual Tyler Wilcox Memorial Guns n’ Hoses Blood Drive in Pierre Thursday (Dec. 5, 2024) saw Team Guns make a big surge, but Team Hoses is still in the lead.
The current score of the friendly contest between firefighters and law enforcement agencies is 185 for Team Hoses and 149 for Team Guns. The two day total is 342 units collected toward the goal of 515.
The Guns n’ Hoses Blood Drive is at Faith Lutheran Church in Pierre again Friday, taking donations from 8am-1:30pm.
The Day 2 drawing winner is Melinda Orr. Another winner will be drawn from Friday’s donors. The Day 1 drawing winner was Librada Mills. The three names will then be drawn with each receiving one of the grand prizes. Those include:
- 1st place: a flat top grill with accessories from Karl’s TV and Appliance and a $50 gift card to Meier Meats in Fort Pierre. ($750 value)
- 2nd place: A $200 Walmart gift card and a $200 Dakotamart gift card
- 3rd place: a 65” flat screen TV from Walmart ($300 value)
DECEMBER 5, 2024:
The 20th annual Tyler Wilcox Memorial Guns n’ Hoses Blood Drive got off to a fast start Wednesday (Dec. 4, 2024) at the Fire Hall in Fort Pierre with 164 units collected.
The current score of the friendly contest between firefighters and law enforcement agencies is 108 for Team Hoses and 56 for Team Guns. The Day 1 drawing winner is Libby Mills. Winners will also be drawn Thursday and Friday. The three names will then be drawn with each receiving one of the grand prizes.
Tyler’s mom, Jeri Wilcox, says she can’t believe this is the 20th annual event.
Wilcox continues to be pleasantly surprised by how many people participate in the blood drive in some way.
The Guns n’ Hoses Blood Drive moves to Faith Lutheran Church in Pierre Thursday and Friday. The hours are:
- Thursday, Dec. 5 from noon-5:30pm
- Friday, Dec. 6 from 8am-1:30pm
To schedule an appointment for Thursday or Friday, go to www.lifeservebloodcenter.org or call 605-626-1620.
To date, the Tyler Wilcox Memorial Guns n’ Hoses Blood Drive has collected 4750 units of blood. With the potential for one donation to be able to help three different recipients, that’s approximately 14,250 lives that have been positively impacted by this annual blood drive.
DECEMBER 4, 2024:
It’s been two decades since the first blood drive honoring the life of Tyler Wilcox and his fight against cancer was held in Fort Pierre. During that one-day event, 56 units of blood were collected.
Now, 20 years later, Tyler’s legacy lives on in the annual event that has expanded to three days and, to date, has collected 4750 units of blood.
LifeServe Blood Center is the company that handles the blood donations. Territory Representative Abbie Arneson and firefighter and flight paramedic Joe Meligan recount how it got started.
Arneson says the support for this blood drive from people in the Fort Pierre and Pierre area comes in many forms.
Firefighter and organizing committee member Rick Cronin says to celebrate the 20th year, all sorts of prizes will be given away.
The Tyler Wilcox Memorial Guns n’ Hoses Blood Drive hours and locations are:
-
Wednesday, Dec. 4 from noon-5:30pm CT at the Fort Pierre Fire Hall
-
Thursday, Dec. 5 from noon-5:30pm at Faith Lutheran Church in Pierre
-
Friday, Dec. 6 from 8am-1:30pm at Faith Lutheran Church in Pierre
MAY 21, 2024:
A junior at Stanley County High School is the winner of this year’s t-shirt design contest for the 20th annual Tyler Wilcox Memorial Guns N Hoses Blood Drive.
Kaysen Magee’s design will serve as the inspiration for this year’s blood drive t-shirts and promotional images. Magee receives a $300 prize for submitting the winning entry.
The runner-up was Tate Westergreen, a senior at Pierre T.F. Riggs High School. Westergreen’s design will be featured on a special committee t-shirt honoring the 20th year of the blood drive. He gets a $100 prize for his design.
The 20th annual Tyler Wilcox Memorial Guns n’ Hoses Blood Drive will be held in December (Dec. 4-6, 2024), but there’s a need for many blood donations between now and then. You can find a schedule of LifeServe Blood Center‘s upcoming blood drives by going to their website.
In January 2022, Avera switched it’s blood supplier from Vitalant to LifeServe, making LifeServe the only supplier of blood and blood products for all of Avera’s hospitals in South Dakota– including the ones in Gettysburg, Miller and Pierre.
Kaysen Magee with LifeServe Blood Center Territory Representative Abbie Arneson.
Courtesy photo.
Tate Westergreen with Pierre Volunteer Firefighter Paula Tronvold.
Courtesy photo.
APRIL 19, 2024:
High school students from Stanley County and Pierre have one week left (April 26, 2024) to create and submit their entries for the Tyler Wilcox Memorial Guns ‘n Hoses Blood Drive t-shirt design contest.
The event works with LifeServe Blood Center and Territory Representative Abbie Arneson says this will be the 20th anniversary of the blood drive.
Arneson says the design of the winning entry will carry over to more than only the t-shirts.
How to submit entries?
The 20th annual Tyler Wilcox Guns n’ Hoses Blood Drive will be held in December, but Arneson says there’s a need for many blood donations between now and then.
You can find a schedule of upcoming blood drives in the LifeServe Blood Center service area on their website. You can also make your appointment to donate.
In January 2022, Avera switched it’s blood supplier from Vitalant to LifeServe, making LifeServe the only supplier of blood and blood products for all of Avera’s hospitals in South Dakota– including the ones in Gettysburg, Miller and Pierre.
Here are the contest rules:
- You must be a Pierre Riggs or Stanley County High School student.
- Your design must incorporate the name of the blood drive and the year 2024.
- You can use up to 4 colors in your design, but it must include red and blue.
- The design can be sketched or created digitally.
- To submit your artwork, visit lifeserve.info/gnhdesign
- Submissions will be accepted until April 26th, 2024.
APRIL 10, 2024:
This year (2024) will be the 20th annual Tyler Wilcox Memorial Guns ‘n Hoses Blood Drive in Fort Pierre and Pierre.
The event works with LifeServe Blood Center and Territory Representative Abbie Arneson says organizers want to get students in the Pierre and Stanley County school districts involved.
Arneson says the winning art entry will be used as the design for the t-shirts given away to this year’s blood donors.
Additionally, Arneson is hoping to have more local businesses sponsor and donate prizes to this year’s blood drive.
Entry deadline for the art contest is April 26, 2024.
Comments