Find a Blood Drive
Find a Blood Drive
COLUMBUS, Ohio (April 26, 2019) — The community is invited to give blood in honor of Troy Stemen at a special American Red Cross blood drive held in his honor Friday, May 10, from 2 to 8 p.m. at St. Agatha Church in Upper Arlington.
Troy, a 17-year-old junior at Bishop Watterson High School, loves sports and computer games. He is known for his upbeat, positive attitude, and he has become a strong fighter. In May 2017 he was diagnosed with high risk B-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia. He received 47 blood and platelet transfusions during his treatment and now, after a stem cell transplant, is in remission thanks to donors.
This is the third blood drive organized in Troy’s honor. The first two drives resulted in 70 blood donations. This blood drive has a goal to collect 45 lifesaving donations.
Troy’s family and friends are organizing this blood drive in his name to raise awareness about how important blood donors are in the treatment of cancer. “He struggled to hit remission,” said Veronica Stemen, Troy’s mother. “But today he is in remission, back to school full time, and doing well thanks to generous blood donors.”
Blood and platelets are used every day to help hospital patients, but not enough people give. Although an estimated 38 percent of the U.S. population is eligible to donate blood at any given time, less than 10 percent of that eligible population actually does each year.
“Giving blood in Troy’s name is a wonderful way to honor him and potentially help others with his condition,” said Cat Elkins, donor recruitment account manager for the Red Cross. “People need blood every day for various reasons and we take for granted it will be there. Giving now is a way to help those who will need it in the days to come.”
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 more than 13,000 blood and platelet donations every day for the patients at about 2,500 hospitals nationwide.
Donate Blood in honor of Troy Stemen
Friday, May 10, 2019
2 to 8 p.m.
St. Agatha Church Parish Hall
1860 Northam Road, Upper Arlington, OH 43221
Sponsor code: StAgatha
All those who come to donate from May 1 to Aug. 31 in the Central Ohio Region will receive a coupon for a buy one get one free entry to the Columbus Zoo and Aquarium, and be entered into a weekly drawing for four tickets to Zoombezi Bay through July 31. In addition, those who come to give blood with the Red Cross through June 10 will also receive a $5 Amazon gift card by email after their donation.
How to donate blood
Simply download the 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 and platelet 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 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.