Back in July when I was asked to be the Great Long Island Running Club's director for the annual Athletes for Life Blood Drive, who would have imagined that come December we'd be living in a changed world? The unspeakable acts that were brought upon our nation have become an indelible part of the rest of our lives. In the aftermath of Sept. 11, the outpouring of generosity, goodwill, patriotism, and compassion has truly been a silver lining during this darkest time. People giving of themselves with no thought of something in return have become the rule not the exception. This was evidenced on Dec. 29 at the 12th annual Athletes for Life Blood Drive. I can only hope and pray that these positive changes that made this year's Blood Drive a success are here to stay, and that our changed world will also, in some ways, be a better one.

I'd like to thank all the volunteers who helped both before and during the drive (see below). My co-Director Pam Weess was always a phone call or an e-mail away and brought her contagious enthusiasm to our calling nights. In addition, former Drive Directors Vinny Croce and Curt Robinson were there to answer my questions, act as sounding boards, and of course say "I told you so!"

I want to express my gratitude to Rich Barkan of Metrotri.com for being an ardent supporter and promoter of the drive through his website (www.metrotri.com), the Webmaster at the New York Road Runners Club (whoever you are) for posting the drive's information on their site's (www.nyrrc.org) bulletin board without any questions asked, and to LITF for promoting the drive online as well. Thank you to Betty Grayson, our contact with Ben's Deli, who provided the "Pint for a Pint" certificates for our donors. A huge word of thanks also goes to Joe Murray of Long Island Blood Services who provided all the participating clubs with guidance, answers, and a facility to make our telemarketing calls from. He was the proverbial "glue" that brought the inter-club efforts together. Thanks and congratulations go to the directors from the other participating clubs: Gene Leahy (Massapequa Road Runners), Roy Lockwood (Northport Running Club), Marge Smith (Bohemia Track Club), Bonny Jockel (CLIMB) and Bob Castro Massapequa Park Bike Club).

The 25 pairs of Islander tickets that were raffled off were donated courtesy of Keyspan and LITF and to both Phil Maroney (Keyspan) and Sue Polansky (LITF) Thank You!

Thank You Blood Drive Volunteers: Phone Calls: Vinny Croce, Gina Gelman, Audrey Giaccone, Amy Goldstein, Carl Grossbard, Lori Levering, Alan Pelikow, Curt Robinson, Irene Robinson, Bob Sherman, Walter Utzman, Pam Weess, Sam Zinn, Sylvia Zinn.

Blood Drive: Joan Ackerman, Sherry Bellovin, Bill Benson, Debby Burton, Dan Cacace, Judy Cstauro, George DeVoe, Howie Ebert, Gina Gelman, Audrey Giaccone, Amy Goldstein, Betty Grayson, Lori Harfenes-Melnik, Norm Hershkowitz, Jim Hogue, Carol Hunt, Bert Jablon, Myra Jablon, Erica Jorquera, Jackie Novack, Nick Palazzo, Michael Service, Herb Silber, Marcia Silber, Sam Zinn, Sylvia Zinn.

A special "thank you" to everyone who showed up to donate a pint of blood at the drive: Paul Bonnani, Joe Basso, Myron Bellovin, Don Benson, Daniel Boltja, Frank Borgi, Rich Boziwick, Jack Bruno, Debby Burton, Rich Bury, Jay Byrne, Daniel Cacace, Kristine Caro, Richard Cluxton, Thomas Conley, John Cuasno, Maureen Davis, Marge DeMarco, George Dennis, Bob DiGiovanna, Kathy DiVeglio, Ric Di Veglio, Barbara Donnellan, Frank Drost, Bill Dunnmeyer, Pam Dye, Howard Ebert, Bill Egan, Bob Elsener, Al Engelsher, Fred Erskine, Paul Falvey, Tom Fama, Jim Fargnoli, Laurene Fargnoli, Lawrence Finger, Robert Finnegan, Pat Fleck, Tony Fleck, Alex Flyntz, Steven Forster, Louise Franco, James Frangella, Melissa Frank, Steven Frank, Rob Frankl, Norm Fredriksen, Alan Friedman, Barbara Friel, Gunter Gallas, Joanne Gallo, Katherine Garistina, Bob Gatland, Nancy Gatland, Stuart Gelberg, Jim Glading, Amy Goldstein, Joanne Gouveia, John Gouveia, Charles Gross, William Guichard, Amanda Hall, Craig Hannan, Kathleen Hannan, Matt Harris, Paul Hart, Amy Hecht, Bob Heiberg, Carolann Higgins, Francis Higgins, Jim Hogue, Richard Hollman, John Hooper, Marc Horowitz, Shelly Horowitz, Allen Huggins, Bert Jablon, Nick Jacobellis, Jim Johnson, Joe Kanzenberg, Michael Kaye, Susan Kaye, Larry Kennedy, Bob Kerschbaum, Nancy Killian, Larry Klass, Diana Knox, Ed Kovesdy, Lynn Kramer, Robert Kueper, Larry Kurtzman, Ed Langholz, Bob Lawrence, Gene Leahy, Lori Levering, Alan Lewis, Scott Lewis, Michael Liose, Angela Lively, John Lively, Roy Lockwood, Helene Luskin, Eric Maas, Paula MacCulloch, Ed Major, Howard Mann, Philip Maroney, Jane McGraw, Donna McMahon, Mary McShane, Bill Meisner, Jose Mendez, Charles Merlino, Edward Mertz, Bunny Monaco, Ross Moore, Jacqui Mullin, John Mulvey, Charleen Naclerio, Gregg Naclerio, Brian Nordell, Steve Nordell, Tom Norris, Frank O'Lear, Juan Oliveras, Lynne Owen, Armand de Palo, Irene Petrsoric, Mike Polansky, Ann Prezioso, Anthony Rebolini, Ivan Rey, Curt Robinson, Irene Robinson, Mario Rosato, Scott Rubin, Jason Sanchez, Pat Satenstein, Laura Schay, Karen Schechter, Debbie Schmitt, Gregory Semar, Michael Service, Ed Shay, Bob Sherman, Greg Sherman, George Shreck, Eileen Sill, Vernon Sissons, Robin Sitzer, John Smith, Leonard Smith, Marge Smith, Ranna Smith, Marion Stanjones, Joe Stanjones, Brian Taylor, Rich Teubner, Vera Thompson, William Thompson, Mary Trotto, Suzanne Vasata, Armando Velasquez, Joe Vente, Mary Jean Ward, Michelle Waring, Randy Weintraub, Julia Westbrook, George Westlake, Marilyn White, Clayton Wilkie, Steve Winkler, Michael Zwing.

Congratulations to those who won the 25 sets of two tickets each to the Islanders' Feb. 5 game, courtesy of KeySpan: Bob Kueper, Bob Elsener, Kristine Caro, Susan Kaye, Ed Major, Irene Petrsoric, Irene Robinson, Bill Guichard, Ed Frank, Jim Glading, Richard Cluxton, Marc Horowitz, Francis Higgins, Tom Norris, James Frangella, Bunny Monaco, Bob Heiberg, George Westlake, Gregory Semar, Michael Service, Charles Merlino, Alan Friedman, Tom Conley, Larry Klass, Ann Prezioso.