Southwick Deputy Fire Chief Richard Stefanowicz hangs his head and looks away in jest as he hands over the blood drive challenge trophy and shakes hands with Police Chief Kevin A. Bishop after the police department won the competition for the first time. (Photo by Hope E. Tremblay)
SOUTHWICK – Southwick Police Chief Kevin A. Bishop happily accepted the town’s coveted blood drive trophy Friday as Deputy Fire Chief Richard Stefanowicz reluctantly handed it over.
For the first time in five years the Southwick Police Department defeated the Southwick Fire Department in its annual blood drive challenge.
The SPD collected 18 units of blood to the SFD’s 11 during the drive, which culminated Sept. 11 with the Baystate Medical Center blood mobile taking donations in Southwick.
The mostly-friendly competition was all in good fun.
“I would like to thank everyone that donated to the police department team and for those of you that did not, I suggest you move out of town,” joked Bishop.
Stefanowicz said it was not an excuse, but noted that several members of the SFD were in Boston that day for a memorial for fallen firefighters, including Southwick’s own Joseph Cigal.
He said they would be back with a vengeance next year to regain their championship title.
“I think there may be a wager next year,” he said.
All kidding aside, members of both departments noted that donating blood is a serious matter that saves lives.
“We appreciate everyone who donated, whether it was to the police or fire team,” Stefanowicz said.
Amy Osgood, blood donor recruiter for Baystate, said since 2015, the rivalry has brought in 125 units of blood, saving as many as 200 lives in Western Massachusetts.
Hope E. Tremblay can be reached at [email protected].
