(NECN: Anya Huneke: Burlington, VT) - Giving the gift of life, one pint at a time. NECN and the Red Cross are teaming up once again this year for a New England wide "Celebrate the Gift of Life Blood Drive". NECN's Anya Huneke visited a blood drive in Burlington, Vermont. Don Fleming has been in this chair. He began donating blood to the American Red Cross back in the 1980s because he knew someone - somewhere - needed it. Then, a few years ago, the need became personal. His son - now 28, was diagnosed with cancer. Fleming - of Fairfax, Vermont, says he would be a regular donor regardless of his family's experiences. And that puts him in the minority, according to Darcy Deo, a collections specialist at the American Red Cross in Burlington. Although winter is typically a slow time of year for donations because of unpredictable weather and illnesses, this year has been different. Carol Dembeck\spokesperson, ARC: "When something bad happens, it brings out the best in people. people just really want to do something useful, helpful, positive." For Ashley Shepardson, it's the "what if?" that got her in here initially. She’s never needed blood, but says, "you can't take anything for granted, anyone, anyone can be in that situation at any time." On her fifth time donating, Shepardson says any fear she once had surrounding the process is now gone. What’s 'very relaxing' for some, may be slightly uncomfortable for others. But at the end of the day- the trade-off, many donors (including this one) agree, more than makes up for it. Just ask Robert Dunshee- a regular at the Red Cross for decades... who's lost count of how much blood he's donated.