Second Red Cross blood drive held in honor of Gradyn Rogers

Gradyn Rogers is an accomplished 17-year-old Kokomo High School student, Eagle Scout, athlete, community organizer and so much more. He is also currently battling his second diagnosis of leukemia. The community is invited to give blood in honor of Gradyn at a special American Red Cross blood drive on Tuesday, Feb. 28, from noon to 6 p.m. at Crossroads Christian Church in Kokomo with a goal to reach the 100th donation made in his name.

 

This is the second Red Cross blood drive in Gradyn’s name, seeking to collect 46 donations. The previous Red Cross drive collected a total of 54 donations.

 

Gradyn has needed blood transfusions during treatment and will need more as treatment continues over the next two years. The Rogers family invites the community to give blood in his honor. “He is an outstanding young man with so many accomplishments already at his age,” said Randy Rogers, Gradyn’s father. “He is a very giving person and he wants to raise awareness of the need for blood and make sure the friends he met in the hospital continue to get the blood they all need.”

 

“When we know someone fighting cancer, we often want to help but don’t know how,” said Toni Fox, account manager for the Red Cross Indiana-Ohio Blood Services Region. “Giving blood in his name is a wonderful way to honor Gradyn and help patients in need.”

 

Those who come to donate at this drive can enjoy coney dogs provided by Barkers B&K on Markland.

 

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 nearly 14,000 blood and platelet donations every day for the patients at about 2,600 hospitals and transfusion centers nationwide.

 

Tuesday, Feb. 28, 2017

Noon to 6 p.m.

Crossroads Christian Church

2600 W. Alto Road, Kokomo, IN 46902

 

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.

 

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.

 

###