BY KAREN BOSSICK
He was a mental health professional who volunteered his time to help wounded warriors via Higher Ground Sun Valley.
But his service was cut short last May when Steve Adam died at St. Luke’s Boise while receiving treatment for leukemia.
As a way to honor his memory, Steve’s widow and friends decided to give blood—something that’s desperately needed during the COVID-19 pandemic.
“Unfortunately, although there is a great need for blood products at this time, there was nowhere to donate in the county,” said his widow Lisa Adam.
To the rescue: Higher Ground where Steve volunteered as a mental health professional with the organization’s military camps.
The Higher Ground Blood Drive to Honor Steve Adam will be held July 20 at the American Legion Hall, 220 Cottonwood St., in Ketchum. Those who would like to donate may go to https://www.redcrossblood.org/give.html/drive-results?zipSponsor=Steve
After the “Drives Near Steve” page has loaded, select the “See Times” icon to register. Choose a time and sign up.
“Just eight weeks before Steve died, he passed his PSIA Alpine Level 1 certification so that he could volunteer to teach skiing to veterans when he wasn’t the designated mental health professional,” said George Caton, the Blood Program Leader for Higher Ground. “Steve loved working with the veterans and the veterans loved him.”
In addition to honoring the enthusiasm Steve Adam put into volunteering with Higher Ground, the blood drive will help the American Red Cross obtain desperately needed donor blood. Because of COVID-19, the Red Cross has had a dramatic drop in blood donations, which can often be used to save a life.
“If someone does not live in Blaine County, I hope they will consider donating blood where they live,” said Lisa Adam.