#GiveBloodToHonorMatt
Photo courtesy of Mary T. Kury
Captain Matt LeTourneau exemplified heroism in numerous ways. He served as a firefighter and EMT in Delaware County before joining the Philadelphia Fire Department and rising through its ranks. As an instructor at the Delaware County Emergency Services Training Center, he trained firefighters from departments around the region. He devoted resources and time to volunteer groups, and his love of animals was evident in his support of several animal welfare organizations. On top of all that, he was a committed blood donor.
We are proud and honored that Captain LeTourneau was a regular donor at our blood drives. He came to donate even after working an overnight shift or before a long day of training other firefighters. He always arrived with a smile and often offered compliments as he left.
On January 6, 2018, Captain LeTourneau died in the line of duty while attempting to rescue the occupant of a burning home in North Philadelphia. As soon as we heard the news, we started thinking about ways that we could honor his service and pay our own tribute to him.
Our blood drive in Radnor Township on May 8, 2018, was dedicated to Captain LeTourneau, and we were proud to spearhead a daylong campaign of regional blood drives that honored his courage, his kindness, and his unwavering commitment to saving lives. For every pint of blood collected in his memory, a donation was made to the Philadelphia 2nd Alarmers Association, an organization that provides support to first responders during disasters.
Donors outside the area joined in by posting photos of themselves donating using the hashtag #GiveBloodToHonorMatt. All told, blood donors donated almost 400 units of blood in memory of Captain LeTourneau on May 8, ensuring that his commitment to saving lives would continue.
Photo courtesy of Bud Henkels