At first, Richard Rains thought someone was playing an April Fools’ Day joke on him, when he was told he had won a Bad Boy 48-inch Z T (zero turn) Elite lawn mower courtesy Bob’s House of Honda in LIFELINE Blood Services’ themed blood drive which ran February 19 through March 31.
While there was no joke involved, Rains winning the mower seemed a bit improbable, considering he is a resident of Texas.
“I live in Athens, Texas, which is about 80 miles east of Dallas,” Rains said, “I’m up here every week working. I work for a company called Lone Star Machine Works and we service all the steel mills in northeast Arkansas and here in Jackson.”
Winning the mower was one thing, but Rains had an easy answer when asked how he planned to get the machine home.
“I pull a trailer every week from (home) so I’m bringing products back that we repair.” Rains said. “So, I guess I’m just lucky to have a trailer with me. I’m in the market for a mower anyway.
“This is the first time I’ve ever won anything. This is going to work our perfectly and I’m excited.”
A regular blood donor, Rains has donated blood at the Jackson location twice.
“This is convenient for me.” Rains said. “Monday through Friday, typically, I’m up here in this area every week, so, trying to give blood in my area with my schedule makes it harder.”
Bob Beasley II, owner of Bob’s House of Honda, was happy to donate the mower to LIFELINE Blood Services and present the mower to Richard Rains.
“We try to help out any time we can.” said Beasley, who was accompanied by his son, Bob III. “It’s hard for people to find time (to give).”
The drive had 4,633 donors in blood banks in Jackson and Dyersburg and the mobile blood drives.
“There were great odds (to win).” Beasley II said, “Giving blood is a big deal … so many people don’t since COVID, and it’s hard to find time, so any type of promotion helps.”
The mower is valued at approximately $5,000.
“Thank you so much to Bob’s House of Honda for this generous donation – the Bad Boy Mower, the Z T Elite model.” said Melinda Reid, marketing manager at LIFELINE Blood Services. “We encourage you to donate blood and give the gift of life.”
(PHOTO: Richard Rains, center, is surrounded by Melinda Reed, marketing manager at LIFELINE Blood Services, left, Bob Beasley II, second from right, and Bob Beasley II)
