September is childhood cancer awareness month. Chemotherapy and radiation treatments often damage blood cells leaving children in need of blood transfusions. Tim Paluch, director of marketing and public relations with LifeServe Blood Center, says your blood donation is very important.
“You know people may not realize how much of a role blood plays in the treatment of cancer and even with childhood cancer of course being able to donate blood and have that lifesaving blood on hand really does affect these children being able to continue those lifesaving treatments.”
The Spirit Lake Community Blood Drive through LifeServe Blood Center, will be at the Dickinson County community building on September 30th from 1 to 6. Paluch says this time of year it’s especially a crucial time for donations.
“The end of summer and early fall, traditionally that is the time of year where our local blood supplies are struggling the most coming out of what we call the trauma season of summer, so you know just keep that in mind that any blood type any sort of opportunity you can to give this would be in the next month or two really be the time to do it.”
Paluch says one of the great things about donating through LifeServe Blood Center is that the donation stays local.
“Might be helping your neighbor or your friend or your family, someone you’re behind in the line the grocery store with and it’s a very very good chance that it’s going to help someone dealing with cancer treatments. We supply blood to the hospitals that you in your community need and a lot of people are going to need blood you know 1 in 7 hospital visits ends up with someone needing a blood transfusion or needing blood so it’s a lot of the people who don’t even realize that there will come a time when they need that as well and you know it’s good to get into the habit of thinking about that as you’re helping out your community.”
For more information or to schedule an appointment you can call 800 287 4903 or go to lifeservebloocenter.org
