Club Sponsored Blood Drives

During the pandemic our club looked for a project we could do safely. Driven in part by a challenge from District Governor Carol Tichelman, our club has partnered with the American Red Cross to do quarterly drives in Arlington. Our third such drive was held on February 8. Our club is responsible for finding a location and for assisting at the registration desk the day of the drive. We also promote the drive amongst Rotarians. Although the appointments are made available first to Rotarians from all the clubs in the area, if the 40 some spots don't get filled with Rotarians, then it is open to anyone else who wants to give.

After each drive, the Red Cross provides the club a snap shot of the impact. Here is that snapshot of our three blood drives to date:

A story of our impact:

After months of vague symptoms and emergency room visits, 6-year-old Kinzie Frey was diagnosed with stage 4, high-risk neuroblastoma, a type of cancer that can grow into tumors. Her tumor was collectively the size of a mini basketball, originating on her right adrenal gland and was tangled throughout her abdomen, wrapping around veins, arteries and organs from her heart to her pelvis. Kinzie’s doctor immediately began an aggressive treatment protocol to fight the cancer and prevent it from returning. After her second round of chemo, she had a procedure to remove some of her stem cells. The cells were preserved and given back to her during two stem cell transplants. Each transplant required a month in the hospital and strict precautions that prevented her from returning to school or going to public places. Kinzie developed a late complication from the stem cell transplant that caused her body to break down blood cells at an alarming rate and required numerous blood and platelet transfusions. Over 18 months, Kinzie received 46 red blood cell transfusions and 72 platelet transfusions. Her mother, Holly Bosse, says, “If it weren't for the generosity of blood donors, Kinzie wouldn't be here with us today. Those blood donations aren’t only a gift to Kinzie but to our family, friends and supporters.