Red Cross Recognizes Donors for Giving the “Gift of Hope”

WEST HENRIETTA, NY (01/21/2008)(readMedia)-- The American Red Cross Blood Services, New York-Penn Region, will honor 125 individuals for their many contributions as platelet and AB blood type plasma donors on Sunday, Jan. 27, at Hearthstone Manor, 333 Dick Road, Depew, from 5:00 p.m. - 8:00 p.m.

Patients suffering from cancer, leukemia, aplastic anemia, or trauma or who are in need of transplant or bypass surgery benefit most from either platelet or plasma transfusions. This special type of donation is referred to as apheresis and it allows a donor to give only one part of his or her blood: platelets, plasma, granulocytes (white blood cells that have granules in the cytoplasm), or red blood cells. The needed component is retained, and the rest is returned back to the donor.

Guest speakers at the event are Steven Carlo, department chair, Emergency Medical Technology, Erie Community College North, and Edward Dore, owner, Dore Landscape Associates, Pendleton.

Both Carlo and Dore each have donated approximately 60 units of platelets during 2007. Volunteer donor and Park View Center Program Director, Barbara Hoekstra, will also speak at the event. Hoekstra is also a member of the Red Cross’ Disaster Mental Health Team.

All current eligible and new donors are urged to schedule and keep appointments to donate platelets or plasma today by calling 1-800-545-4086, or by visiting www.DonateBloodNow.org/Apheresis. Anyone 17 years or older, weighing at least 110 pounds and in general good health may be eligible to donate.

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