May Blood Drive

Closing the Gap for Sickle Cell Patients

Thursday, May 13, 1:00 – 6:30 PM   

Davis Christian Life Center

For our May blood drive, we will be joining the American Red Cross “Closing the Gap for Sickle Cell Patients” campaign.  Sickle Cell disease is a group of disorders that cause red blood cells to become misshapen and break down.  There are more than 100,000 people in America affected by Sickle Cell Disease.  These patients require frequent blood transfusions to help prevent or reduce symptoms of the disease, sometimes as many as 10 transfusions per month.  Sickle Cell Disease impacts African Americans at disproportionate rates.  For every 250 Caucasian blood donations screened, 1 may be a match to help a Sickle Cell patient.  For every 250 African American blood donations screened, 28 may be a match to help the same patients. 

We are encouraging all donors to bring a friend to the May drive and hope to have at least 20 new blood donors to step up and roll up a sleeve to save more lives.  All donors will receive a $10.00 Amazon Gift Card.  And as we head into the summer season, it’s important to ensure plenty of donated blood is stocked on our hospital shelves.

If you’d like to learn more about the Red Cross’s Sickle Cell initiative, go to:  https://www.redcrossblood.org/donate-blood/blood-types/diversity/sicklecell.html