Blood Donations

Blood donations The Greater Chesapeake and Potomac Region of the American Red Cross is requesting blood donations. Eligible donors can call 800-GIVE-LIFE to schedule an appointment. Platelet donors should call 800-272-2123. Calendar Volunteers needed: The organizing committee for Relay for Life needs volunteers. This overnight event June 4-5 is designed to celebrate cancer survivorship and raise money for the American Cancer Society. For information, call Jason Copley at 410-781-4316, e-mail hcrelay@hotmail.

Blood donations The Greater Chesapeake and Potomac Region of the American Red Cross is requesting blood donations. Eligible donors can call 800-GIVE-LIFE to schedule an appointment. Platelet donors should call 800-272-2123. Focus group Howard County General Hospital's Center for Breast Care is looking for women who are living with metastatic breast cancer to participate in a focus group to help determine the services and resources needed in the area. Women interested in participating should contact Tina Evans, 410-884-4650 or cevans@hcgh.

Longtime blood platelet donors who often help cancer patients in emergencies were honored recently by the American Red Cross, Greater Chesapeake and Potomac Region during an awards dinner and a night at the ballpark.The organization paid tribute to 200 platelet donors and 300 other volunteers, who were given tickets to an Orioles game at Oriole Park at Camden Yards.Platelet donations differ from whole blood donations. Chemotherapy for cancer patients destroys cancer cells, but also is toxic to normal cells, including platelets, the blood-clotting cells found in bone marrow.

Red Cross seeking blood donations In response to a sharp decline in blood donations as the July 4 holiday approaches, the Greater Chesapeake and Potomac Region of the Red Cross is urging eligible donors to schedule an appointment to donate blood. Those who do will be offered a "Be the One We Count On" T-shirt and a chance to win $100 worth of gas in a weekly raffle. Donors must be in good health, at least 17 years old (16 with written parental consent), weigh 110 pounds or more, have not received a tattoo within the past year and have not donated whole blood in the past 56 days.