The community is invited to give blood in honor of Hadlea Mendenhall at a special American Red Cross blood drive held in her name Saturday, April 28, 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Mt. Olive United Methodist Church in Marion.
Hadlea is a 5-year-old girl who likes to share. She has been involved in projects to donate toys and supplies to other children. In May 2016 she was diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic leukemia, a type of cancer that affects blood and bone marrow, known as ALL. During her treatment she has needed multiple blood transfusions and may need more as treatment continues.
Hadlea’s family and friends are organizing a blood drive in her name to raise awareness about how important blood donors are in the treatment of cancer. “Receiving blood has helped save her life multiple times,” said Cassidy Myers, Hadlea’s godmother. “We would love to see the entire community come to give blood in her name. It would mean so much to her and help those who need it.”
“There are so many reasons why someone may need blood that we don’t even realize,” said Toni Fox, donor recruitment account manager for the Red Cross. “We take for granted that blood will be there at the hospital when we need it, but it can only come from generous volunteer donors. Giving blood in Hadlea’s name is a wonderful way to honor her and potentially help others with her condition.”
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 2,600 hospitals nationwide.
Donate Blood in honor of Hadlea Mendenhall
Saturday, April 28, 2018
9 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Mt. Olive United Methodist Church
2015 North 300 West, Marion, IN 45952
The Red Cross needs donors of all blood types to help ensure a sufficient supply for patients this spring. All those who come to donate from April 9 to May 13, 2018, will be entered to win one of three $1,000 gift cards to a national home improvement retailer, courtesy of Suburban Propane. (Restrictions apply. More details are available at RedCrossBlood.org/Lets-Do-More.)
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 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.
Volunteers needed
Another way to support the lifesaving mission of the American Red Cross is to become a volunteer transportation specialist and deliver lifesaving blood products to local area hospitals. Volunteer transportation specialists play a very important role in ensuring an ample blood supply for patients in need by transporting blood and blood products. For more information and to apply for a volunteer transportation specialist position, visit rdcrss.org/driver.
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.
