The July Athletes for Life blood drive is always a tough one, as folks are often reluctant to give blood in the midst of the summer running season, but this year on July 8 at the Melville Marriott, blood drive organizers were pleased to collect 74 pints - a record number for July.

The drive is conducted by the Greater Long Island Running Club, the Massapequa Road Runners, the Northport Running Club, the Bohemia Track Club, the Massapequa Park Bike Club and CLIMB and is directed by GLIRC's Gina Gelman.

Thanks once again to Athletes for Life blood donors: John Bell, Keli Bell, Margaret Boorstein, Dennis Boyd, Ira Brotman, Richard Bury, Joseph Byrne, Richard Cluxton, Thomas Conley, Howard Cragg, Maureen Davis, Franklin Dee, John Dywer, Howard Ebert, Robert Elsener, Alan End, Sharon End, Paul Falvey, James Fargnoli, Cheryl Frank, Susan Frank, Jonathan Freed, Robert Frey, Dawn Guarino, Matt Harris, Robert Heiberg, Norman Hershkowitz, John Hooper, Frederick Horstmann, Petra Hurney, Nicholas Jacobellis, Peter Johnson, Robert Kerschbaum, Sue Kretzmer, Dawn Krol, John Krol, Laurence Kurtzman, Edward Langholz, Eugene Leahy, Alan Levine, Roy Lockwood, Jeanne Marcin, Paula MacCulloch, Christine Martin, Deborah McGarry, Edward McGay, Kevin McQuillan, Ilene Milman, Ross Moore, Donald Mottl, John Mulvey, Karen Navin, Laurence Neyland, Diana Pabon, Irene Petrsoric, Michael Polansky, Rosemary Reinis, Ivan Rey, William Reindeau, Matthew Salerno, Michael Salerno, Alfred Schanstra, Diane Schubert, Edward Shay, Robert Sherman, Vernon Sissons, Robin Sitzer, Ronald Stepnowski, Ed Trepper, Suzanne Vasata, Julia Verrelli, Colleen Warkala, Edward Warkala, George Westlake, James Williams, Steve Winkler and Richard Zaweski.

And, of course, some special thanks to all of those who put in some long hours as blood drive volunteers - the drive couldn't do it without them. Thanks to Ira Brotman, Leni Brotman, George Devoe, Jack Dywer, Betty Grayson, Rich Hollman, Myra Jablon, Bob Lasky, Vincent Lo Cicero, Christine Martin, Herb Silber, Marcia Silber, Sam Zinn and Sylvia Zinn.

"Our July success gives us something to build on, and we very much hope to break still another record for the December blood drive," noted blood drive director Gina Gelman. "Our goal for December is 200 pints, and with everyone's help we can get there. Hey, those of you who have never donated before - the demand is greater than ever, the need is greater than ever, and if you are physically able to give, there is absolutely no good reason not to."