Mother holds blood drive in son's memory

SPRINGFIELD, Mass. (WWLP) - One year ago shortly after the October snow storm, a car struck 21 year old Jeffrey Leporati of West Springfield.

He died several days later.

His mother sponsored a memorial blood drive at St. Thomas the Apostle School in Jeffrey's memory.

Teresa Leporati told 22News, her son would have wanted her to celebrate his memory in this manner.

Teresa Leporati also says, “He was walking home that night and somebody was shoveling out, a total stranger. Jeffrey stopped and helped him and that's the kind of person that Jeffrey was. He needed a lot of blood while in the hospital. Let him have a blood drive in his memory. “

She said Jeffrey was an organ donor and knew the importance of the gift of life.