Patriots fan donates blood, wins Super Bowl trip from Red Cross to see first NFL game
Lifelong New England Patriots fan Eric Jellison never imagined that rolling up his sleeve to donate blood would send him to the Super Bowl.
The Wakefield, Massachusetts resident was randomly selected by the American Red Cross from a nationwide pool of donors and won a trip for two to Super Bowl LX in Santa Clara, California. At first, he didn't believe the call was real.
"I have to say that I was very shocked, honestly. Like everyone says with all the scams and things going on in the world, you never know what to believe," Jellison said.
He and a guest will now see the Patriots face the Seattle Seahawks in person Sunday. It will also be the first time he's been to an NFL game.
"When I hit the stadium, when I'm there in the parking lot, that's when it's really going to hit. I'm just going to be in awe of the whole event," Jellison said. "We are absolute fans. I have all my old jerseys, my Ty Law and all those different things that you get over the years, posters and signs."
His connection to blood donation is personal. Jellison was in a traumatic accident as a child and said a blood transfusion saved his life. He's been a donor ever since.
Kelly Isenor, director of communications for the Red Cross of Massachusetts, said they hope Jellison's once-in-a-lifetime experience will shine a spotlight on the need for blood donations.
"Every two seconds, someone in the U.S. needs blood," Isenor said. "For Eric to win this amazing prize for doing something that was so selfless, we love to be a part of that."
For someone who has watched every Super Bowl from his couch, Jellison said the experience feels surreal.
"I'm just a regular person," he said. "I'm just donating blood and just doing what I can to help others as best I can, and this reward just seems unbelievable."
