Donate Blood with the Red Cross to Help Those Fighting Breast Cancer

Those who come to give Oct. 15-Nov. 11 will receive a $5 Amazon.com Gift Card

(Oct. 7, 2020) — During Breast Cancer Awareness Month this October, the American Red Cross urges eligible donors to band together to provide hope and healing to patients fighting cancer by giving blood or platelets. In appreciation, those who come to give Oct. 15-Nov. 11 will receive a $5 Amazon.com Gift Card* via email, courtesy of Suburban Propane.

Donors are asked to make appointments by downloading the Red Cross Blood Donor App, visiting http://RedCrossBlood.org, calling 1-800-RED CROSS (1-800-733-2767) or enabling the Blood Donor Skill on any Alexa Echo device.

Donors of all blood types are urged to help ensure a stable supply for cancer patients and others this fall. To thank those who come to give in October, the Red Cross is also offering a $1,000 Amazon.com Gift Card to five lucky winners. *Terms and conditions apply. More information and details are available at http://RedCrossBlood.org/Unite

Blood donations play a crucial role in cancer treatment

Diane Doehrman began donating blood during college. In the years following, she became a platelet donor and even helped start blood drives in her community. More recently, Doehrman’s been on the receiving end of blood donations. Fourteen years ago, she was diagnosed with breast cancer. Now she has an incurable cancer, malignant mixed Müllerian tumor.

“As a cancer patient, I had to have blood transfusions several times when the chemotherapy treatments have destroyed my immune system,” she said. “I am so very thankful for the donations from others. It can truly save a life.”

Cancer patients undergoing surgery and chemotherapy may require red blood cell or platelet transfusions. In fact, patients fighting cancer need more blood than those with any other disease, using nearly one-quarter of the nation’s blood supply.

Important COVID-19 information for donors
The Red Cross is testing blood, platelet and plasma donations for COVID-19 antibodies. The test may indicate if the donor’s immune system has produced antibodies to this coronavirus, regardless of whether an individual developed COVID-19 symptoms. Red Cross antibody tests will be helpful to identify individuals who have COVID-19 antibodies and may now help current coronavirus patients in need of convalescent plasma transfusions. Convalescent plasma is a type of blood donation collected from COVID-19 survivors that have antibodies that may help patients who are actively fighting the virus.

COVID-19 antibody test results will be available within one to two weeks in the Red Cross Blood Donor App or donor portal at RedCrossBlood.org. A positive antibody test result does not confirm infection or immunity. The Red Cross is not testing donors to diagnose illness, referred to as a diagnostic test. To protect the health and safety of Red Cross staff and donors, it is important that individuals who do not feel well or believe they may be ill with COVID-19 postpone donation.

Each Red Cross blood drive and donation center follows the highest standards of safety and infection control, and additional precautions – including temperature checks, social distancing and face coverings for donors and staff – have been implemented to help protect the health of all those in attendance. Donors are asked to schedule an appointment prior to arriving at the drive and are required to wear a face covering or mask while at the drive, in alignment with Centers for Disease Control and Prevention public guidance.

Upcoming blood donation opportunities Oct. 15-31:

 

Hardin County:

Ada

10/15/2020: 11 a.m. – 5 p.m., Visiting Nurses & Hospice, 1200 S. Main St.

Forest

10/21/2020: 2 p.m. – 7 p.m., McVitty Memorial VFW Post 1182, 204 West Lima St.

Kenton

10/26/2020: 12 p.m. – 6 p.m., First Baptist Church, 11543 County Road 175

10/28/2020: 10 a.m. – 3 p.m., Hardin Memorial Hospital, 921 East Franklin Street
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Logan County:

Belle Center

10/26/2020: 2 p.m. – 8 p.m., Belle Center United Methodist Church, 101 S. Center St.
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Marion County:

La Rue

10/31/2020: 8 a.m. – 2 p.m., LaRue Methodist Church, 166 North High Street

Marion

10/16/2020: 1 p.m. – 6 p.m., Marion General Hospital, 1000 McKinley Park Drive

10/22/2020: 9 a.m. – 3 p.m., Marion County Commissioners, 222 W. Center St.

10/24/2020: 8:30 a.m. – 1:30 p.m., The Alber Red Cross Center, 1849 Summerset Drive
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Union County:

Marysville

10/15/2020: 12 p.m. – 6 p.m., Union County Family YMCA, 1150 Charles Ln

10/16/2020: 1 p.m. – 7 p.m., Union County Family YMCA, 1150 Charles Lane

10/20/2020: 1 p.m. – 7 p.m., Marysville Elks Lodge, 125 E. Fifth St

10/22/2020: 12 p.m. – 6 p.m., Hope Center, 212 Chestnut Street

10/22/2020: 3 p.m. – 8 p.m., First English Lutheran Church Marysville, 687 London Ave.

10/30/2020: 10 a.m. – 4 p.m., Union County Family YMCA, 1150 Charles Lane