Find a Blood Drive
Find a Blood Drive
FARMINGTON, Mo. (Sept. 4, 2019) — The American Red Cross is partnering with family and friends of Carlei Huff to host a blood drive in her memory Saturday, Sept. 14 from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Farmington Civic Center, 2 Black Knight Drive, in Farmington.
In 2015 at the age of 12, Carlei was diagnosed with advanced osteosarcoma. Osteosarcoma (also called osteogenic sarcoma), is a very aggressive bone cancer and is considered the most common cancer that starts in the bones. Most osteosarcomas occur in children and young adults. Teens are the most common that the cancer attacks. Carlei had an aggressive plan of chemo treatment that involved the removal of part of her femur and a knee replacement. After a long battle, Carlei passed away in February 2018.
Over the course of the three years and eight days, Carlei had taken on multiple life-threatening and lifesaving surgeries, as well as over 165 chemotherapy treatments and 35 radiation treatments. This blood drive is a way for the Huff family to give back to the community and raise awareness for childhood cancer.
“Carlei faced the harsh effects of chemotherapy and aggressive tumors creating blood loss and low blood counts,” said Vicky Huff, Carlei’s mother. “Because of multiple blood donors, we were able to have many opportunities with our daughter making life long memories.”
The Red Cross urgently needs donors of all blood types to give blood in support of kids fighting cancer, patients with sickle cell disease and others facing serious illnesses. Type O and B blood donors are critically needed right now. The Red Cross must collect about 13,000 blood donations every day for patients at about 2,500 hospitals and transfusion centers nationwide.
How to donate blood
To makes an appointment for this drive, simply download the Red Cross Blood Donor App, visit RedCrossBlood.org, 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.