OAKHURST
— The students and faculty at Yosemite High School are encouraging
the community to save lives with a replacement blood and marrow
drive, in honor of Sam Rowlett, on Friday, December 19, from 1 -
6 p.m. The blood drive will be held at the Sierra Telephone’s Parkway
Building (formerly known as Sierra Online Building), located at
40033 Sierra Way, in Oakhurst
Sam was in the Yosemite Union High School band and a football player
for the championship team. In January 2003, he was diagnosed with
Acute Lymphocytic Leukemia. Not one of his five siblings has proven
to be a marrow match. He is currently receiving relapse therapy
for his leukemia. Please donate blood for Sam, and become a potential
donor on the National Bone Marrow Registry. You, or someone you
know, may be the match for others just like Sam.
“We so appreciate the efforts of Sam and his family,” states Chris
Sorensen, Director of Community Relations and Development for Central
California Blood Center. “It is tremendous when those who experience
the need for blood and marrow transplants first hand, reach out
to the community to educate as well as help a great many others
in valley hospitals during the process," adds Sorensen.
Blood donation takes less than one hour to complete. Donors must
be in good general health, weigh a minimum of 110 pounds and be
at least 17 years old. Senior citizens are encouraged to donate,
as there is no upper age limit. Donors should eat a good meal and
drink plenty of water within 4 hours prior to their donation. Donors
can give blood every eight weeks, the time it takes for the body
to completely replace a pint of blood. A Social Security Number
is required for registration, and first-time donors must present
photo identification upon registration.
The Central California Blood Center is the sole provider of blood
and blood products for the 31 hospitals in Fresno, Tulare, Madera,
Kings and Mariposa Counties and must collect at least 250 pints
of blood daily to meet the needs of our Valley community.
Currently, there is funding to waive the registration fees for the
following ethnic groups: Hispanic, African American, Asian Island
Pacific and Native American. Partial funding is now available for
Caucasian donors. The registration fee, for other ethnic groups,
will range from $25 to $65 per donor, depending on funding availability
at the time of drive. For questions regarding the National Marrow
Registry, please call 1-866-82-BLOOD.
Contact Blood Drive Chairperson Stephanie Samuels at 683-4667 ext.
310, or Lynn Stone with the Central California Blood Center at 224-2900,
ext. 3018.
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