Find a Blood Drive
Find a Blood Drive
SPRINGFIELD, Mo. (Feb. 12, 2019) — The American Red Cross is once again joining forces with the family of Sydni Brown to host a blood drive in her honor Saturday, Feb. 23 from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Abundant Life Church, 700 Spencer Drive, in Neosho. An inaugural drive in her honor was held last December and collected 71 lifesaving donations.
In May 2018 at the age of ten, Sydni, was diagnosed with Stage 4 Alveolar Rhabdomyosarcoma, also known as ARMS. The treatment plan for ARMS is very intense and includes 54 weeks of chemotherapy, with radiation therapy involved.
Weekly, Sydni and her family make a 300-mile trip from their home in Seneca, Mo., to St. Louis Children’s Hospital for her treatments and she has completed 37 weeks of treatment.
This blood drive is a way for the Brown family to give back to the community and raise awareness for Sydni’s condition.
“There are children just like Sydni who are in a fight for their life against ARMS and this is a way to generate more awareness,” said Darci Brown, Sydni’s mother. “We had a tremendous outpouring of donors last December, and we hope the community comes out to donate blood in her honor once again.”
This blood drive will help the blood supply recover from a donation shortfall over the winter holidays that prompted the Red Cross to issue an emergency call for blood donors to give now. Donors of all blood types, especially type O blood donors, are needed to prevent a blood shortage from continuing throughout winter and affecting patient care.
Every two seconds in the United States blood and platelets are 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 more than 13,000 blood and platelet donations every day for the patients at about 2,600 hospitals nationwide.
Eligible donors with types O, A negative and B negative blood are urged to make a Power Red donation at this blood drive. Power Red donors give a concentrated dose of red blood cells during a single donation, allowing them to maximize their impact.
How to donate blood
To makes an appointment for this drive, simply download the Red Cross Blood Donor App, visit RedCrossBlood.org and use sponsor code SYDNI, or call 1-800-RED CROSS (1-800-733-2767). 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 (16 with parental consent in some states), 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 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, from a computer or mobile device. To get started and learn more, visit RedcCossBlood.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.