Find a Blood Drive
Find a Blood Drive
Blood donations needed to care for patients like Bridget Whiston & Diane Jorgensen
CANTON, Mo. — The American Red Cross is once again teaming up with the faculty and students at Canton High School to host the second annual blood drive in honor of Bridget 'Super B' Whiston on Monday, January 23. In addition, they have added another layer to the drive this year by including school nurse Diane Jorgensen who is battling breast cancer.
Last year’s inaugural drive for Whiston saw the community come out in a big way as 63 units of livesaving blood were collected. Whiston suffers from Rhabdomyosarcoma and needs blood and platelet donations to offset her chemotherapy treatments. The hope is this year’s drive will top that number with the dedicated drive also including Jorgensen. She has been the Canton R-5 School District's school nurse for the past 14 years. Her breast cancer resurfaced last year after being in remission since 2006.
“Canton really stepped up for one of its own last year in our inaugural blood drive,” said Audrey Hamlin, Account Manager, American Red Cross. “This is a very tight-knit community, and the Red Cross is delighted to work together with Canton High School to help Bridget and Diane.”
Blood Drive in honor of Bridget Whiston and Diane Jorgensen
Canton Elementary Gym
200 N. 4th Street
Canton, Mo. 63435
Monday, January 23, 2017; 1 p.m. to 6 p.m.
Hectic holiday schedules for many regular blood donors contributed to about 37,000 fewer donations in November and December than what was needed. Snowstorms and severe weather have also impacted donations. Nearly 100 blood drives were forced to cancel in December, resulting in more than 3,100 blood donations going uncollected. The Red Cross is currently under an emergency appeal for blood and platelet donations and asks for the public’s help in donating blood, so we can help patients like Bridget Whiston and Diane Jorgensen.
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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