CARBONDALE -- People donated blood Friday in Lackawanna County in memory of a young man who was killed in a crash earlier this year.
Shane Rivenburgh's family thinks the blood drive was meant to continue his legacy.
“I think Shane somehow brought us all together in a lot of ways, and it's a positive thing,” said Cathy Rivenburgh, Shane’s mother.
One by one, blood donors filed into a room at Creekside Health and Rehab in Carbondale. One thing in common brought them all here: a connection to 18-year-old Shane Rivenburgh.
The college freshman and baseball star was killed when his motorcycle was hit in Archbald back in April. Rivenburgh wasn't able to be an organ donor as he'd hoped, so his mom, Cathy, considered it a sign from her son when Creekside called and said its summer blood drive would be in Shane's memory.
“Shane, on his license wanted to be a donor, and this is his way of still continuing to be a donor and bringing in his family and friends to help out others,” she explained.
Sue Yurian of Waymart heard about the drive on Facebook. She knows the Rivenburgh family but hasn't donated blood in decades.
"Just thought I’d come and represent her, and it’s a terrible loss, obviously. I mean, I have an 18-year-old son also,” said Yurian.
Shane's grandfather, Bud Perri, stood and watched as family and strangers alike donated blood all while wearing his grandson's name and baseball number on his wrist.
“It does help because of what you see and what they’re doing. It makes you feel good and it kind of helps you along with this healing process that we're into now, which is a tough one, you know,” he said.
The crash that killed Shane has been under investigation for two months. The Lackawanna County district attorney says that investigation is almost complete.
This a way to turn that pain into positivity.
“Blood, that’s life for someone, so our elderly residents feel that we’re giving life to people who can live as long as they do,” said Theresa Slachata from Creekside Health and Rehab.
The blood collected could save close to 40 lives.
