Joshua Seaton, 17-year-old son of Danny and Lisa Seaton of Dyersburg, works on a banner to promote area blood drives. For Seaton, this Eagle Scout project became a personal one when his grandfather's surgery was postponed due to a lack of blood in the blood bank. [Click to enlarge]

When 17-year-old Joshua Seaton began planning his Eagle Scout project, he entertained the notion to do a food drive. He even began the paperwork to start the project, but several circumstances occurred to change the young man's focus and to move the project in a more personal direction.

"My grandfather was diagnosed with a stomach aneurism," said Seaton, the son of Danny and Lisa Seaton of Dyersburg. "And they had to postpone surgery for a couple of weeks because of a lack of blood in the blood bank. It kind of connected."

When the paperwork for Seaton's first Eagle Scout project was lost, he got in touch with Lifeline Blood Services and began to plan a new Eagle Scout Project to promote blood drives and increase donations in the area.

The process was slow-going at first. Armed only with small posters, the young man visited many businesses throughout the community. Several retail establishments considered Seaton's promotion solicitation and would only allow him to put signs up in the employee break rooms and lounge areas. The result was a less-than-desirable outcome for his first blood drive at Dyersburg Electric System on April 17.

"At my first blood drive, we only had six blood donors in three hours," said Seaton, who said Lifeline personnel brought novels to the event to pass the time.

"I only had a stack of posters and one helper. It made me look at what I was doing wrong," said Seaton, who decided to stop by Burks Beverage and request large banners. "I also gave a speech to the Boy Scouts and (recruited) 11 helpers. After the banners, we had a line of 30 people outside one bus (waiting to give blood.)"

A radio interview on WASL with a Lifeline Blood Services representative was another technique Seaton used to draw awareness to his project.

Seaton participated in promoting six blood drives during his project, including a very successful drive at Dyer County's Relay for Life on the campus of Dyersburg State Community College on May 9.

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Other blood drives included events at Dyersburg Regional Medical Center on April 24, Dyersburg High School on April 25, Dyersburg Electric System on May 15 and First United Methodist Church on May 23.

Although Seaton has completed promoting his blood drive projects, he still thinks it is very important to promote future Lifeline blood drives. Upcoming blood drives in the Dyersburg area include:

* Friday, July 11 - Dyersburg Mall

* Thursday, July 17 - Dyersburg Electric

* Friday, July 25 - First United Methodist Church

The Boy Scout Eagle Scout Project is a test of organization and leadership promoting projects that aid the community. After the initial project is approved, the scout must document his organization techniques and resubmit the paperwork after the project is complete. Seaton's project will then have to be approved by Troop Master Edgar Schultz, the Troop 88 Recorder and the Eagle Scout Review Board, chaired by Andrew Harrington.

"(This project) actually kind of inspired me," said Seaton. "At the beginning of the project, I wasn't having fun. I was very frustrated (and wanted) to get it over with as soon as possible. As it started picking up, it was very inspiring. (I learned) that I shouldn't give up when things go wrong or when it is tough. I should keep working and trust that it will all work out in the end."