PRESQUE ISLE, Maine — In March, while basketball teams are fighting for the chance to be crowned champions, patients battling cancer and other illnesses are fighting for their lives. The American Red Cross is asking blood donors to help patients rebound by making a lifesaving donation this spring.
Middle school basketball player Olivia Stoy, 14, received blood and platelet transfusions during treatment for T lymphoblastic lymphoma. With the help of blood and platelet donations, the 14- year-old has returned to the basketball court and, more importantly, beat cancer.
The Red Cross needs donors of all blood types to help ensure they can collect more than 13,000 blood and platelet donations needed every day for patients like Olivia.
Several blood drives are planned in Aroostook County later this month, including the following:
Ashland: March 21, 1-6 p.m., Ashland District School.
Caribou: March 21, 9 a.m.-2 p.m., Caribou High School.
Dyer Brook: March 30, 9 a.m.-2 p.m., Southern Aroostook Community School.
Fort Kent: March 19, 8:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m., Community High School.
Limestone: March 20, 1-6 p.m., Maine School of Science and Mathematics.
Presque Isle: March 22, 10 a.m.-3 p.m., University of Maine at Presque Isle.
Giving blood takes less time than it takes to watch a single basketball game. Make an appointment to donate blood by downloading the free Red Cross Blood Donor App, visiting redcrossblood.org or calling 1-800-RED CROSS (1-800-733-2767).
