EATON — Donate blood to help with the treatment of cancer patients and to support young Eaton cancer patient Stevie “SJ” Dillon at the “Stevie Strong” community blood drive on Thursday, Oct. 14 from 12-6 p.m. at the Eaton Community Church, 813 Camden Road, Eaton.
Appointments are encouraged. Schedule online at www.DonorTime.com or call (937) 461-3220.
Everyone who registers to donate will receive the “Cancer Fighters are the GOAT” t-shirt honoring October Breast Cancer Awareness Month.
SJ is the four-year-old son of Eaton residents Rebecca Davis and Steve Dillon. He was diagnosed with stage four embryonic brain cancer in November 2020. Rebecca said the cancer has no cure and he may have less than five months to live.
“Their doctor told them they should have an early Christmas for him and the family,” said Leslie Ritchie, a CBC phlebotomist and friend of the family who is helping organize the blood drive. “He’s back from the hospital and on comfort care. His last request was to be home with his family.”
The theme of the blood drive is “Christmas in October” with the plea to “Help us honor SJ and his fight against brain cancer – We are Stevie Strong!”
Nearly one fourth of the blood supply goes to cancer patients, higher blood component usage than any other disease. Cancer patients need blood because chemotherapy and radiation treatments can damage bone marrow, reducing their red cell and platelet production. Complex surgical procedures for cancer also require transfusions.
The Cancer Fighters t-shirt is the third and final design in the Community Blood Center “Blood Donors are the GOAT” campaign. CBC is challenging eligible donors to collect all three designs before the campaign ends on Oct. 30.
Blood donation requirements: Donors are required to provide a photo ID that includes their full name. Past CBC donors are also asked to bring their CBC donor ID card. Donors must be at least 17 years of age (16 years old with parental consent: form available at www.givingblood.org or at CBC branch & blood drive locations), weigh a minimum of 110 pounds (you may have to weigh more, depending on your height), and be in good physical health. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) changes blood donor eligibility guidelines periodically. Individuals with eligibility questions are invited to email [email protected] or call 1(800)388-GIVE. Make an appointment at www.DonorTime.com.
Community Blood Center/Community Tissue Services® is an independent, not-for-profit organization. Community Blood Center provides blood products to 23 hospitals and health centers within a 15-county service area in the Miami (Ohio) and Whitewater (Indiana) Valleys. For more information about Community Blood Center/Community Tissue Services®, visit www.givingblood.org.
