A blood drive in honor of Randy Miller will be held at the Bellwood Senior Center tomorrow from noon to 6 p.m., sponsored by the Bellwood-Antis High School faculty.
The senior center is located on Main Street in Bellwood.
Randy Miller, a Bellwood-Antis High School football coach, requires blood transfusions as part of his cancer treatment and is thankful to be able to bring awareness to the Red Cross Blood Services and the ongoing need for blood.
The home economics classes from Bellwood-Antis High School will be providing refreshments, while several students will volunteer their time.
According to Julie McCabe, Donor Resources Field Representative for the American Red Cross Blood Services for the Greater Allegheny Region, over 20 students volunteered to help at the drive. Most of the students were too young to give blood but still wanted to help out.
McCabe credited James Mackereth, a vocational agriculture teacher at the high school, with spearheading the event. She said Mackereth organized committees to hang posters. He also met with the students and really got the whole drive going.
The goal set for the blood drive is 40 productive units. In order to accomplish that, McCabe said they will need at least 50 people in the door.
“We’re really hoping that the community comes out to donate in his (Randy’s) honor,” said McCabe.
In order to donate blood, an individual must be at least 17-years-old, weigh at least 105 pounds and be in good health.
Blood given at this blood drive will be used to help patients throughout the region.
According to the American Red Cross, “By donating blood, individuals have the potential to give that gift of life to others like Randy. Every two seconds someone needs blood and the unit of blood you donate could help up to three hospital patients.”
For more information or to schedule an appointment, call 1-800-GIVE-LIFE or visit www.redcrosslife.org.
