The community is invited to give blood at an American Red Cross blood drive in memory of Kaleb McLaughlin as part of the Kaleb McLaughlin Memorial Ride and Organ Donation Awareness Day. The blood drive will be held Saturday, July 8, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Pioneer Area Chamber of Commerce.
Kaleb passed away on June 24, 2013 after being involved in an automobile accident. Hardworking and loyal, Kaleb was always trying to help others, such as through registering as an eye, tissue, and organ donor. For the fourth consecutive year, his family hopes to promote organ and blood donation at a day-long event honoring Kaleb’s memory.
“We are sharing Kaleb’s story to make people aware of their ability to save a life through organ donation and blood donation,” said Kaleb’s mother, Kim Oxender. “We all have the power to be someone’s hero.”
“We would love to see our whole community donate,” said Kevin Oxender, Kaleb’s father.
Three previous blood drives held in memory of Kaleb have resulted in 114 blood donations. This year Kaleb’s family is seeking 40 donations, which will take the total number of donations given in honor of Kaleb to more than 150.
“Hosting this blood drive in his name is a wonderful way to remember Kaleb and honor his legacy of helping others,” said Stephanie Burris, account manager for the Red Cross.
In addition to the blood drive, the Memorial Ride will feature a motorcycle ride, 5K run, silent auction and drawings, children’s activities, both breakfast and lunch, local vendors and more. The entire community is invited to attend. Full details online at kalebsride.com.
This blood drive comes at an important time of year. Blood and platelet donations often decline during the summer months when busy summer schedules and vacation plans can cause some donors to be less available to give. Every two seconds in the United States blood is needed to respond to patient emergencies, including accident and burn victims, heart surgery and organ transplant patients, and those receiving treatment for leukemia, cancer or sickle cell disease. The Red Cross must collect nearly 14,000 blood and platelet donations every day for the patients at about 2,600 hospitals nationwide.
Fourth Annual Kaleb McLaughlin Memorial Blood Drive
Saturday, July 8, 2017
9 a.m. – 3 p.m.
Pioneer Area Chamber of Commerce
100 North Elm St., Pioneer, OH 43554
Everyone who comes to donate now through Sept. 4 can receive an exclusive Cedar Fair ticket offer that helps support the Red Cross, and enter to win one of two grand prize packages for four to Knott’s Berry Farm in California or Cedar Point in Ohio. Blood drive participants can go to
redcrossblood.org/cedarfair to purchase discounted tickets for gate admission and enter to win one of the two grand prize packages. For each ticket purchased through the website, Cedar Fair will donate $2 to the Red Cross to support its humanitarian mission. Terms and conditions apply and are available at
redcrossblood.org/cedarfair.
How to donate blood
Simply download the American Red Cross Blood Donor App, visit
redcrossblood.org or call 1-800-RED CROSS (1-800-733-2767) to make an appointment or for more information. All blood types are needed to ensure a reliable supply for patients. A blood donor card or driver’s license or two other forms of identification are required at check-in. Individuals who are 17 years of age in most states (16 with parental consent where allowed by state law), weigh at least 110 pounds and are in generally good health may be eligible to donate blood. High school students and other donors 18 years of age and younger also have to meet certain height and weight requirements.
Blood donors can now save time at their next donation by using RapidPass to complete their pre-donation reading and health history questionnaire online, on the day of their donation, prior to arriving at the blood drive. To get started and learn more, visit
redcrossblood.org/RapidPass and follow the instructions on the site.
About the American Red Cross
The American Red Cross shelters, feeds and provides emotional support to victims of disasters; supplies about 40 percent of the nation's blood; teaches skills that save lives; provides international humanitarian aid; and supports military members and their families. The Red Cross is a not-for-profit organization that depends on volunteers and the generosity of the American public to perform its mission. For more information, please visit
redcross.org or
cruzrojaamericana.org, or visit us on Twitter at
@RedCross.
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