After nearly three months, the second annual 2003 Thon Blood Drive has come to an end.

Donations from the drive, which started Dec. 4, are expected to total 1,875 units of blood, said Wendi Keeler, Penn State Red Cross field representative.

"Each unit of blood has the potential to help three different people," she said.

The Red Cross also made a donation of $3,750 to the Four Diamonds Fund, she said. The Four Diamonds Fund received $2 for every unit of blood given during Interfraternity Council/Panhellenic Dance Marathon-related blood drives.

It is difficult to tell whether this year's drive was more successful than last year's because this year's was held in many different locations and also allowed students to enter the National Bone Marrow Donor Program Registry, Keeler said.

Many students chose to enter the registry in addition to donating blood. By entering, students have the possibility of becoming a bone marrow donor and helping individuals with diseases such as leukemia, Keeler said.

Zarna Patel (sophomore-premedicine) successfully donated bone marrow to her sister with leukemia five years ago and was happy to see that other students expressed similar interest in donating.

"It's such a simple process, and it wasn't painful at all," she said. "The procedure only takes an hour."

Keeler said the Red Cross and the Penn State Student Red Cross Club were happy to have such a positive turnout. The reason the drive was successful was because students recognize the connection between cancer patients and their need to receive blood, she said.

All donors received a T-shirt, pen and free food for their participation.

Those involved with Thon also received five spirit points for their organizations.

"But, the main thing they get is the peace of mind that they are donating," Keeler said.

Gillian Conaghan (junior-marketing) attended Saturday's drive in HUB Alumni Hall for many reasons.

"I haven't donated in a while, and I wanted to support Thon," she said.