The American Red Cross is once again partnering with family and friends of Addison Sawyer Floyd to host a blood drive in her memory Thursday, Oct. 1, from noon to 6 p.m. at Immaculate Conception Church (ICC) in Owensville.
Those who wish to donate but are unable to attend the Oct. 1 blood drive also have the opportunity to donate at a Sept. 28 blood drive in Belle. The blood drive in Belle will be held Monday, Sept. 28, from 12-5 p.m. and is sponsored by the Belle High School National Honor Society and Belle community.
Addison was a happy and spirited little girl who loved to dance. In November 2017, she was diagnosed with a difused midline glioma of the brain. After surgery to remove a malignant tumor, she received blood products, including platelets, as part of her treatment. Addison passed away five months later at the age of four.
Last year, her family hosted an inaugural blood drive in her memory as a way to give back to the community and raise awareness for childhood cancer. Blood donations were collected numbered 103, and Addison’s mother, Jennifer Floyd, hopes to reach the century mark again this year.
“We had such a wonderful outpouring of donors last year and we look forward to another successful blood drive,” said Jennifer. “This is a way for us to help others who are facing similar situations to Addison’s, and a way to honor her memory.”
The Red Cross needs donors of all blood types to give blood in support of children fighting cancer, patients with sickle cell disease and others facing serious illnesses.
According to the American Cancer Society, about 11,050 children in the U.S. under the age of 15 will be diagnosed with cancer in 2020. Your blood donation is critical to providing care.
The Red Cross must collect about 13,000 blood donations every day for patients at about 2,500 hospitals and transfusion centers nationwide. The Red Cross encourages healthy individuals to schedule and keep blood donation appointments in the weeks ahead to ensure a stable supply for patients throughout this coronavirus pandemic.
For the safety of the donor community and in accordance with CDC guidelines, all donors are required to wear a face covering or mask and should bring one to the donation. Donors who do not have a mask will have one provided to them.
