Find a Blood Drive
Find a Blood Drive
Sammy’s Superheroes is partnering with the American Red Cross to call on its supporters to donate blood on Aug. 6.
The Nahorny family knows all too well that the fight against childhood cancer often requires the help of everyday superheroes who donate blood. In 2012, 8-year-old Sammy Nahorny of Columbus was diagnosed with neuroblastoma. To help raise awareness of childhood cancer, his family started Sammy’s Superheroes Foundation. Part of the awareness campaign includes educating people on the need for blood products among pediatric cancer patients, including Sammy, who has needed blood and platelets several times during his treatment.
Those who are fighting cancer may need blood transfusions for a variety of reasons, including low blood counts or for surgical procedures. Additionally, chemotherapy drugs and radiation used to treat cancer can affect the bone marrow where platelets are produced. Platelets are the clotting factor in blood, and transfusions are often needed to help prevent life-threatening bleeding.
This drive comes at a particularly difficult time for the Red Cross. Many schools that hold blood drives are out of session during the summer months, and vacation and summer schedules may cause some donors to be unavailable to give. This makes it a hard time to collect enough blood to meet the needs of hospital patients. Right now, blood donations are being distributed to hospitals as quickly as donations come in.
Donate blood with Sammy’s Superheroes
Saturday, Aug. 6
8:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.
Parking lot east of HyVee Gas
3012 23rd St.
To make an appointment to donate blood, use the Red Cross Blood Donor App, visit redcrossblood.org, or call 1-800-RED-CROSS and use sponsor code GiveForGold.
How to donate blood
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 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 visit us on Twitter at @RedCross.