The community is invited to give blood in honor of Ava Bowen at a special American Red Cross blood drive Monday, May 22, from noon to 6 p.m. at South Central Rural Electric Membership Corporation (REMC) Community Room in Martinsville.
Four-year-old Ava loves animals and playing dress up. She was diagnosed with ALCL, a form of lymphoma. Throughout her treatment Ava has received blood transfusions on a regular basis and may need more as treatment continues.
The Bowen family hopes the community will give blood in her honor. “We invite the entire community to come give blood,” said Sammi Bowen, Ava’s mother. “This would be a great way to give back to those who need it.”
“Hosting this blood drive in her name is a wonderful way to honor Ava and help patients in need,” said Hannah Combs, account manager for the Red Cross Indiana-Ohio Blood Services Region.
Every two seconds in the United States blood is 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.
Blood drive in honor of Ava Bowen
Monday, May 22, 2017
Noon to 6 p.m.
South Central REMC Community Room
300 Morton Ave., Martinsville, IN 46151
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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