Find a Blood Drive
Find a Blood Drive
SPRINGFIELD, Mo. (July 1, 2019) — The American Red Cross is once again partnering up with the family of Sydni Brown to host a blood drive in her honor Saturday, July 13 from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Abundant Life Church, 700 Spencer Drive, in Neosho.
This is the third blood drive held in her honor and over 120 donations have been collected during the first two. 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 would make a 300-mile trip from their home in Seneca, Mo., to St. Louis Children’s Hospital for her treatments. She had her last chemotherapy treatment May 20th, and her final end of treatment scan on June 10th. Sydni has received 18 blood transfusions and 10 platelet transfusions to date, and will now only need monthly check-up trips to St. Louis.
These blood drives are 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 have had a tremendous outpouring of donors for the first two drive, and we hope the community comes out to donate blood in her honor once again.”
On June 11, the American Red Cross launched the Missing Types campaign to raise awareness for lifesaving blood donations and urge the public to make an appointment to give blood this summer.
During the Missing Types campaign, the letters A, B and O – the letters representing the main blood groups – are disappearing from brands, social media pages, signs and websites to illustrate the critical role blood donors play in helping patients. When the letters A, B and O vanish from everyday life, the gaps are striking. And when A, B, O and AB blood types go missing from hospital shelves, patient care and medical treatments are affected.
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.