Help kids kick cancer by giving blood with the Red Cross
Red Cross and Sport Clips Haircuts partner to raise awareness of childhood cancers, offer free haircut coupon to donors in September
SALT LAKE CITY, Utah (Aug. 26, 2019) – September is Childhood Cancer Awareness Month, and the American Red Cross encourages eligible donors to give blood to support kids, teens and young adults battling cancer, as well as others in need of transfusions.
The National Cancer Institute estimated that more than 15,000 children and adolescents in the U.S. would be diagnosed with cancer last year. Childhood cancer patients may need blood products on a regular basis during chemotherapy, surgery or treatment for complications.
Cancer and cancer treatments can put patients at risk for low red blood cell and platelet counts. Some types of chemotherapy can damage bone marrow, lowering the production of red blood cells and platelets. Cancers such as leukemia and lymphoma attack the bone marrow as well. Blood and platelet transfusions can enable patients to receive critical treatments needed to fight and survive cancer.
Platelet donors and blood donors of all blood types are urgently needed to replenish the blood supply following a summer blood shortage. As a thank-you, those who come to give Aug. 30-Sept. 3 will receive a unique Red Cross canvas tote bag, while supplies last.
Make an appointment to donate by downloading the free Red Cross Blood Donor App, visiting RedCrossBlood.org, calling 1-800-RED CROSS (1-800-733-2767) or enabling the Blood Donor Skill on any Alexa Echo device. Blood drives are also essential in helping ensure blood is available for patients this winter. To learn more and sign up to host a blood drive, visit RedCrossBlood.org/HostADrive.
Who blood donations help
In October 2018, what began as a normal toddler’s ear infection changed the Corbeau family’s life forever. Beth and Matt Corbeau’s 2-year-old son, Jackson, was running a high fever. He was taken to urgent care and diagnosed with a simple ear infection and prescribed antibiotics. After a few days, Jackson’s fever failed to subside, and he became increasingly more lethargic. His parents decided it was time to have him seen again.
After a quick visit to Jackson’s primary care physician, they were advised that he was anemic and were instructed to take him to the local emergency room. Five grueling hours after arriving at the ER, the Corbeau’s were introduced to a pediatric oncologist. Beth recalls that moment, “As soon as she introduced herself as a pediatric oncologist, I felt the room get extremely small. I don’t remember anything that was said that afternoon after she said the word ‘leukemia.’”
In the first few days after diagnosis, Jackson received red blood cell and platelet transfusions to prepare him to have a port placed in his chest to receive chemotherapy treatments. He has gone through multiple rounds of chemotherapy and has received approximately seven units of blood and four units of platelets during his treatment so far.
“Our family is so grateful to blood and platelet donors who so generously make time to share their good health with patients like Jackson,” says Beth Corbeau. “It’s easy to forget about the importance of blood donations if you don’t know someone in need, but it’s something I will never take for granted again.”
Sport Clips and Red Cross partnership highlights childhood cancer awareness
Donors can do good and look good this September when they donate blood or platelets with the Red Cross and get a free haircut coupon from Sport Clips Haircuts – a proud supporter of childhood cancer research – during the annual Saving Lives Never Looked So Good campaign.
Those who come out to give blood or platelets Sept. 1-30 will receive a coupon for a free haircut via email several days after their donation. The coupon is valid through Nov. 11, 2019, at participating Sport Clips locations. Donors must have a valid email address on record to receive the coupon.
Donors are urged to make an appointment to donate using the free American Red Cross Blood Donor App, by visiting RedCrossBlood.org/sport-clips, by calling 1-800-RED CROSS (1-800-733-2767) or by enabling the Blood Donor Skill on any Alexa Echo device. The Red Cross and Sport Clips encourage donors to use the hashtag #SavingLivesLooksGood to share their new looks and invite others to give.
Upcoming blood donation opportunities Aug. 30-Sept. 15
Davis
Bountiful
8/30/2019: 9 a.m. - 2 p.m., Dick's Market, 2280 Orchard Drive
Centerville
9/13/2019: 2:30 p.m. - 8 p.m., Centerville South Stake, 270 North 300 East
Farmington
9/11/2019: 2 p.m. - 8 p.m., Farmington South, 850 South 50 East
Layton
9/12/2019: 2 p.m. - 8 p.m., Layton Hills Stake, 590 West Antelope Dr
North Salt Lake
8/30/2019: 9 a.m. - 3 p.m., Wanship Transportation, 455 West 1100 North
Salt Lake
Draper
9/13/2019: 2 p.m. - 8 p.m., Draper Utah Corner Canyon Stake-Steeplechase Building, 13350 South 1750 East
Herriman
9/11/2019: 3 p.m. - 8 p.m., Athlos Academy of Utah, 12309 S. Mustang Trail Way
Murray
9/13/2019: 10 a.m. - 2 p.m., Western Governors University, 3995 South 700 East, Suite 50
Riverton
9/13/2019: 2 p.m. - 8 p.m., Bluffdale Utah South Stake, 14662 South 3200 West
Salt Lake City
8/31/2019: 8 a.m. - 2 p.m., South Building, 3935 South 1500 West
9/10/2019: 7:30 a.m. - 2 p.m., Granger High School, 3580 South 3600 West
9/10/2019: 2 p.m. - 8 p.m., Salt Lake Valley View Stake, 2245 East 3900 South
9/10/2019: 2:30 p.m. - 8 p.m., Salt Lake Parleys Stake, 2350 South 2100 East
9/12/2019: 2 p.m. - 8 p.m., Salt Lake Butler West Stake, 1875 East 7200 South
Salt Lake City
9/12/2019: 2 p.m. - 8 p.m., Brighton Point Ward, 3455 East 7800 South
Salt Lake City
9/12/2019: 3 p.m. - 8 p.m., Salt Lake Granite Park Stake, 601 East Mansfield Avenue
9/13/2019: 12 p.m. - 5 p.m., Utah Schools for the Deaf and the Blind, 1655 East 3300 South
Sandy
9/10/2019: 3 p.m. - 8 p.m., Sandy Utah Granite View Stake Center, 9880 South 3100 East
South Jordan
8/30/2019: 2 p.m. - 8 p.m., South Jordan Utah Founders Park Stake, 11685 S. Kestrel Rise Road, (4510 W.)
West Jordan
9/13/2019: 2 p.m. - 8 p.m., West Jordan Copper Hills Stake, 5176 West Parr Drive
West Valley City
9/12/2019: 2 p.m. - 8 p.m., Salt Lake Hunter Stake - Stake Center, 3737 South 5600 West
9/13/2019: 9 a.m. - 2 p.m., Wheeler Machinery Co., 4901 West 2100 South
9/14/2019: 9 a.m. - 2 p.m., Granger North Stake, 3175 South 3450 West
Utah
Eagle Mountain
9/14/2019: 8 a.m. - 2 p.m., Eagle Mountain West Stake, 1330 E. Ira Hodges Scenic Pkwy
Highland
9/14/2019: 8 a.m. - 2 p.m., Highland Utah Central Stake, 10962 North 6400 West
Lehi
9/11/2019: 10 a.m. - 4 p.m., DigiCert, 2801 N. Thanksgiving Way, #500
Mapleton
9/11/2019: 2 p.m. - 8 p.m., Mapleton Utah North Stake Heritage Church, 1580 N. Main
9/13/2019: 3 p.m. - 8 p.m., Mapleton City Center, 125 West 400 North
Orem
8/30/2019: 9 a.m. - 2 p.m., Zamp HR, 898 North 1200 West
9/12/2019: 2 p.m. - 8 p.m., Orem Sunset Heights Stake, 1260 South 400 West
Pleasant Grove
9/12/2019: 2 p.m. - 8 p.m., Pleasant Grove Utah Stake, 275 East 500 South
Provo
9/10/2019: 2 p.m. - 8 p.m., Provo Utah Young Single Adult 5th Stake, 352 N 900 E
Spanish Fork
8/30/2019: 3 p.m. - 8 p.m., Spanish Fork Maple Mountain Stake, 400 North 761 East
Springville
9/13/2019: 2 p.m. - 7 p.m., Springcreek South Stake, 350 North 400 East
Weber
Ogden
9/10/2019: 10 a.m. - 4 p.m., American Nutrition, 2813 Wall Avenue
9/11/2019: 9 a.m. - 3 p.m., Weber County Employees, 2380 Washington Blvd.
9/11/2019: 11 a.m. - 4 p.m., Utah School for the Deaf and the Blind, 742 Harrison Blvd
9/11/2019: 3 p.m. - 8 p.m., Ogden East Stake, 1314 27th Street
9/12/2019: 10 a.m. - 3:30 p.m., Autoliv, Airport, 3350 Airport Road
How to donate blood
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, before arriving at the blood drive. To get started, follow the instructions at RedCrossBlood.org/RapidPass or use the Blood Donor App.
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.
