Photo: Natascha Niffka of Granite State Harley-Davidson hands over the keys to a new Sportster to David Belyea

David Belyea of Bath, New Hampshire was chosen as the lucky winner of a brand new Harley Davidson Sportster on January 15. Belyea’s name was selected from among hundreds of entrants in a holiday raffle sponsored by the American Red Cross Blood Services, Northern New England Region and five Harley Davidson dealerships throughout Maine, New Hampshire and Vermont.

Five Harley dealerships agreed to split the cost of the bike valued at $6,900. They were: Green Mountain Harley-Davidson of Essex Junction, VT; Wilkins Harley-Davidson of Barre, VT; North Country Harley-Davidson of Augusta, ME; Big Moose Harley-Davidson of Portland, ME; and Granite State Harley-Davidson of Lebanon, NH.

Along with David Belyea, James Atchinson of Waterbury, VT and Linda Julian of Westbrook, ME were the three semi-finalists drawn from all the contest entries. Each of the three had a long history with donating blood to the Red Cross.

Belyea received a telephone call on January 13 at Coventry Log Homes, Inc. in Woodsville, NH where he is employed as a technical advisor. He was informed of his semi-finalist status and asked to be available for a conference call on the 15th when the winning ticket would be drawn. On the phone for the drawing were the three finalists, most of the Harley dealers, and Red Cross Representatives. The honors of drawing the winning entry went to a faithful donor in Burlington, VT who was actually giving blood at the time of the drawing. Natascha Niffka of Granite State Harley-Davidson in Lebanon, NH made arrangements with Belyea to pick up his new Harley Sportster on Saturday.

David Belyea has been a dedicated Red Cross blood donor for at least 20 years. Though he typically donates blood in Haverhill, NH he made the fateful decision to give blood at the Monroe Health Clinic in Monroe, NH during the holiday blood drive.

Belyea is no stranger to the need for blood. At the age of 18 after knee surgery it was discovered that he had an Atrial Septal Defect and would need open heart surgery during which he was given units of donated blood. He has been returning the favor ever since. Obviously he is no stranger to good luck either. It was discovered during the surgery that he had been born with a transposed ventricle that also needed to be repaired. David Belyea highly recommends giving blood, “It’s a good feeling to give blood, knowing that you are helping someone in need, and it doesn’t cost a thing!”