July 19, 2025

In early April, Cyndi Conn from Components Lab was getting ready to run in the Louisville 10 Mile when she saw a familiar shirt on one of the runners. Instead of a traditional race shirt that so many of the races hand out, this gentleman had on the “Fight Cancer” T-shirt KBC distributed to donors in the fall of 2024.

Cyndi thanked the man, which prompted a conversation about why he donates blood. It turns out the runner, Arnie Handschke, wears the shirts for that very reason: to strike up conversations.

“It’s getting people to visit with,” Arnie said. “Trying to establish something in common. The race T-shirts don’t do that for me. I think people are looking for someone to talk to and just don’t know how to, and the shirts are a conversation starter for me.”

Arnie is always happy to talk about blood donation because he’s proud to be a blood donor. Now at 79 years old, Arnie grew up in a time when blood donation was just something you did.

“It starts with civic duty,” Arnie said. “I was raised with that in mind. They didn’t have regular giving like we have now, but when there was a need and they said, ‘We need someone with this kind of blood or that kind of blood,’ I had family that would respond. Just a family tradition.”

Arnie moved around the country during his professional years, but it’s only recently since he retired that he became a consistent donor. Arnie said he saw an ad on TV a couple of years ago that reminded him of how easy the process is. The ease of technology to hop on a website and make an appointment, the time to do it in retirement, and the convenience of the Middletown Donor Center made him a regular.

Arnie has made 22 donations since the middle of 2023. He’s become a loyal platelet donor, allowing him to donate every 14 days.

“The professionalism of the staff at the Kentucky Blood Center,” Arnie said when asked about what keeps him coming back. “It’s a pleasant environment that builds confidence. It’s a duty that you do, and afterwards you feel good about it and look forward to doing it again.”

Arnie’s mother had cancer and needed blood transfusions, and his wife also had cancer, although she didn’t use blood products. Knowing he and his wife are entering their twilight years, it isn’t lost on Arnie that he or his wife may someday be on the other end of the blood bag.

“We are persuaded that it just doesn’t show up automatically,” Arnie said. “There is a system in place to help those who need blood, and I feel compelled to help out.”

Arnie just needed that reminder of convenience to get him back in the habit, and he’s now hoping to provide the same for his 20-year-old grandson. He said the seed is planted for his grandson like it was when he was a young man and saw his family doing it; his grandson just needs that nudge, which he’s hoping to provide.

“I think he might actually do it if I go with him,” Arnie said. “Talking about it now will inspire me to take another step with him to get him acquainted, and maybe it will be something that he’ll end up doing throughout his life.”