Blood Is Medicine: September is Childhood Cancer Awareness Month

Published by Kirby Winn on Wednesday, September 6, 2023 in News Releases

ImpactLife reminds blood donors of the critical role they can play in treating young patients with cancer during September’s Childhood Cancer Awareness Month. Every day, more than 40 children are diagnosed with cancer in the United States and many of these patients will receive blood transfusions to help treat symptoms of the disease as well as side effects caused by chemotherapy. 

Three-year old Ian Bentz is one such patient who has received red blood cell and platelet transfusions provided by ImpactLife blood and platelet donors.

Ian’s parents, Jonathan and Kristina Bentz of DeWitt, Illinois, are grateful for their support of their community and blood donors throughout their son’s journey with cancer. Kristina Bentz says she can tell when her normally energetic son will need to receive a blood transfusion. "We can already tell when his counts are going to be low because his energy level is not normal," says Bentz. "He's in bed, he's lethargic, he wants to just lay down, and even his color changes as well." 

Jonathan Bentz says the family decided to host a blood drive when they realized the importance of red blood cell and platelet transfusions for patients like Ian. The "Ian the Cancer Wrangler Blood Drive," held in late July, provided 25 donations for our region's blood supply, with the majority of donations coming from first-time donors.
“Blood Is Medicine: Give Blood Today for Their Tomorrow”
ImpactLife has created a communications toolkit for Childhood Cancer Awareness Month to help support outreach efforts and educate potential donors on the difference they can make for patients like Ian. The ”Blood Is Medicine” campaign, available at bloodcenter.org/childhoodcancer, includes an educational toolkit with infographics and statistics, motion graphics, social media cover photos, and video features. The web page also includes scheduling information and a calendar of upcoming childhood cancer-related blood drives.

To schedule an appointment for donation, call (800) 747-5401, text 999-777, or schedule online at bloodcenter.org, or via the Blood Center's mobile app (bloodcenter.org/app).

ImpactLife Donor Rewards

Through September 10, all presenting donors will receive their choice of an electronic gift card or a donation to support teachers across the ImpactLife service region through AdoptAClassroom.org. Also through September 10, donors who register to give for their FIRST TIME with ImpactLife at a donor center location OR mobile drive will receive a voucher to get their choice of a $50 e-gift card OR $50 donation to help teachers. Details at bloodcenter.org/now.

Through September 10:

• Whole blood donations at mobile blood drives: $10 gift card OR $10 AdoptAClassroom.org donation
• Whole blood donations at ImpactLife donor center locations: $25 gift card OR $25 AdoptAClassroom.org donation
• First-time donation with ImpactLife (donor center locations and mobile blood drives): $50 gift card OR $50 AdoptAClassroom.org donation 

• Platelet, plasma, or double red cell donations: $25 gift card OR $25 AdoptAClassroom.org donation
• First or second time platelet donation: $50 gift card OR $50 AdoptAClassroom.org donation

About ImpactLife
ImpactLife is a not-for-profit community organization providing blood services and emergency services providers to 124 hospitals in Illinois, Iowa, Missouri, and Wisconsin, as well as resource sharing partners across the country. Services extend from southcentral Wisconsin to St. Louis, Missouri and from Danville, Illinois to Chariton, Iowa. (See a map of the ImpactLife service region.) ImpactLife operates 22 Donor Centers and holds approximately 5000 mobile blood drives annually to provide blood components needed for patient transfusions at hospitals throughout our region.

For more information, see www.bloodcenter.org and find us @impactlifeblood on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, TikTok, Twitter, Snapchat, and YouTube.

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