Published by Kirby Winn on Tuesday, September 3, 2024 in News Releases
During September’s Childhood Cancer Awareness Month, ImpactLife is raising awareness of the impact of cancer on children and the critical role blood donors can play in supporting their treatment.
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Every day, blood transfusions provide a lifeline for pediatric cancer patients by helping treat symptoms of the disease as well as the side effects of chemotherapy and radiation. Cancer can lead to a decrease in red blood cell and platelet levels. By receiving blood from volunteer donors, pediatric cancer patients can replenish their blood supply and maintain strength for further treatment and recovery.
Blood Donors Make a Difference!
Doctors told Ruby’s parents she had a 10%-20% chance of being alive in five years after being diagnosed with cancer in 1999. She passed the five-year mark in July and shows no signs of cancer or slowing down. See her story and learn about her family’s commitment to blood donation, below.
“Blood Is Medicine: Fight Childhood Cancer”
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 Ruby.
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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 (www.bloodcenter.org/app).
ImpactLife Donor Rewards
This week, ImpactLife is focused on recovering donations lost over Labor Day Weekend. The blood center is offering an increase in the value of its Donors Rewards for those who visit ImpactLife Donor Center locations through September 8.
Gift value depends on your planned donation type and location.
Limited time Labor Day bonus values: September 1 - 8
Register to give at a DONOR CENTER ![Ryder with quote]()
- WHOLE BLOOD - $40 gift card or $40 donation or 2,000 points
- DOUBLE RED - $45 gift card or $45 donation or 2,500 points
- PLATELET (and the donor has previously given platelets 2 or more times with ImpactLife) - $45 gift card or $45 donation or 2,500 points
- PLATELET (and it's the donor's 1st or 2nd attempt to give platelets with ImpactLife) - $70 gift card or $70 donation or 4,000 points
Register to give at a MOBILE BLOOD DRIVE
- WHOLE BLOOD - $20 gift card or $20 donation or 1,000 points
- DOUBLE RED - $25 gift card or $25 donation or 1,500 points
- PLATELET (and the donor has previously given platelets 2 or more times with ImpactLife) - $45 gift card or $45 donation or 2,500 points
- PLATELET (and it's the donor's 1st or 2nd attempt to give platelets with ImpactLife) - $70 gift card or $70 donation or 4,000 points
September 9 - 30 (all locations)
About ImpactLife
ImpactLife is a nonprofit community organization providing blood services to more than 120 hospitals and emergency medical service providers in Illinois, Iowa, Missouri, and Wisconsin, as well as resource sharing partners across the country. The blood center operates 23 Donor Centers and holds approximately 5000 mobile blood drives annually to provide blood components needed by hospitals and in pre-hospital emergency response throughout our region.
For more information on blood inventories and donor promotions, see www.bloodcenter.org and find us @impactlifeblood on Facebook, X, Instagram, YouTube, and LinkedIn.
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