Red Cross: Help Kids Kick Cancer, Give Blood In San Diego County

SAN DIEGO COUNTY, CA — September is Childhood Cancer Awareness Month, and the American Red Cross is urging donors to give blood to support kids, teens and young adults battling cancer, as well as others in need of transfusions.

More than 15,000 children and adolescents in the United States are diagnosed with cancer every year, according to the National Cancer Institute. Childhood cancer patients may need blood products on a regular basis during chemotherapy, surgery or treatment for complications.

Blood and platelet donors of all blood types, especially type O negative and O positive, are needed to replenish the blood supply following a critical summer blood shortage, according to the Red Cross.

Donors who give blood or platelets with the Red Cross in September will get a free haircut coupon from Sport Clips.

"The Red Cross and Sport Clips share a commitment to helping kids kick cancer, and we are thrilled to partner in September for the Saving Lives Never Looked So Good campaign to help bring attention to this important topic," Donna M. Morrissey, director of national partnerships with Red Cross Biomedical Services, said in a statement.

"We are grateful to Sport Clips for their continued support of the Red Cross and for thanking the generous blood and platelet donors who help make lifesaving treatments possible for many childhood cancer patients."

Donors must have a valid email address on record to receive the coupon via email. The coupon is valid through Nov. 11, 2018, at participating Sport Clips locations.

How to help

To schedule an appointment to donate, use the Blood Donor App, visit redcrossblood.org or call 1-800-RED CROSS (1-800-733-2767). Donation appointments and completion of a RapidPass online health history questionnaire are encouraged to help reduce the time it takes to donate.

As a special thank you, those who give blood or platelets with the Red Cross July 26 through Aug. 31 will be emailed a $5 Target e-gift card.

Upcoming blood drives in San Diego County

Coronado

• 9/12: 8:30 a.m. - 2:30 p.m., Coronado High School, 650 D Ave.

Encinitas

• 9/9: 10 a.m. - 4 p.m., Best Buy, 1046 N. El Camino Real
• 9/15: 9:30 a.m. - 3:30 p.m., Encinitas Library, 540 Cornish Drive

Escondido

• 9/6: 2 p.m. - 7 p.m., Escondido East Valley Community Center, 2245 East Valley Parkway
• 9/8: 10 a.m. - 3 p.m., Escondido East Valley Community Center, 2245 East Valley Parkway
• 9/10: 2 p.m. - 7 p.m., Escondido Community, 2245 East Valley Parkway

Fallbrook

• 9/11: 9:30 a.m. - 3:30 p.m., Fallbrook Library, 124 South Mission Road

La Jolla

• 9/7: 10 a.m. - 4 p.m., University California San Diego, 9500 Gilman Drive

Oceanside

• 9/7: 10 a.m. - 4 p.m., Pacific Marine Credit Union, 1278 Rocky Point Drive
• 9/10: 12 p.m. - 6 p.m., Wal-Mart, 3404 Marron Road
• 9/13: 2 p.m. - 7 p.m., Oceanside Masonic Center, 511 Eucalyptus

San Diego

• 9/5: 8 a.m. - 2 p.m., Asset Marketing Systems, 15050 Avenue of Science, Suite 100
• 9/5: 10 a.m. - 5 p.m., The Abbey on Fifth Ave, 2825 Fifth Ave.
• 9/5: 12:15 p.m. - 7:15 p.m., Kearny Mesa Blood Donation Center, 4229 Ponderosa Ave. Suite C
• 9/6: 8 a.m. - 3 p.m., Scripps Mercy Hospital, 4077 Fifth Ave.
• 9/6: 9 a.m. - 3 p.m., Miramar College - Student Affairs Building, 10440 Black Mountain Road
• 9/6: 10:45 a.m. - 5:15 p.m., Kearny Mesa Blood Donation Center, 4229 Ponderosa Ave. Suite C
• 9/7: 8:15 a.m. - 3:15 p.m., Kearny Mesa Blood Donation Center, 4229 Ponderosa Ave. Suite C
• 9/8: 7:45 a.m. - 3 p.m., Kearny Mesa Blood Donation Center, 4229 Ponderosa Ave. Suite C
• 9/9: 7:45 a.m. - 1:45 p.m., Kearny Mesa Blood Donation Center, 4229 Ponderosa Ave. Suite C
• 9/10: 12:15 p.m. - 7:30 p.m., Kearny Mesa Blood Donation Center, 4229 Ponderosa Ave. Suite C
• 9/11: 10 a.m. - 4 p.m., Qualcomm Building AY, 10155 Pacific Heights Blvd.
• 9/11: 10 a.m. - 4 p.m., Enterprise Rent-A-Car Regional Office, 6330 Marindustry Drive
• 9/11: 12:15 p.m. - 7:15 p.m., Kearny Mesa Blood Donation Center, 4229 Ponderosa Ave. Suite C
• 9/12: 10 a.m. - 4 p.m., Qualcomm Building WT, 5745 Pacific Center
• 9/12: 10 a.m. - 4 p.m., TD Ameritrade San Diego, 5010 Wateridge Vista Drive
• 9/12: 12:15 p.m. - 7:15 p.m., Kearny Mesa Blood Donation Center, 4229 Ponderosa Ave. Suite C
• 9/13: 8 a.m. - 2 p.m., Scripps 4S Ranch, 10790 Rancho Bernardo Road
• 9/13: 10 a.m. - 4 p.m., Qualcomm Building Q, 6455 Lusk Blvd.
• 9/13: 10 a.m. - 4 p.m., Qualcomm Building S, 5775 Morehouse Drive
• 9/13: 10:45 a.m. - 6 p.m., Kearny Mesa Blood Donation Center, 4229 Ponderosa Ave. Suite C
• 9/14: 8:15 a.m. - 3:15 p.m., Kearny Mesa Blood Donation Center, 4229 Ponderosa Ave. Suite C
• 9/15: 7:45 a.m. - 3 p.m., Kearny Mesa Blood Donation Center, 4229 Ponderosa Ave. Suite C

San Diego State University

• 9/10: 10 a.m. - 4 p.m., San Diego State University Aztec Walk, 5500 Campanile Drive

San Marcos

• 9/11: 10 a.m. - 4 p.m., California State University San Marcos Kellogg Plaza, 333 S Twin Oaks Valley Road

Spring Valley

• 9/9: 8 a.m. - 2 p.m., New Life Baptist Church, 9255 Lamar St.

What to know about giving blood

Interested in donating? Download the American Red Cross Blood Donor App, visit redcrossblood.org or call 1-800-RED CROSS (1-800-733-2767) for more information or to make an appointment.

A blood donor card or driver's license or two other forms of identification are required at check-in.

Individuals who are 17 years of age in most states (16 with parental consent where allowed by state law), weigh at least 110 pounds and are in generally good health may be eligible to donate blood. High school students and other donors 18 years of age and younger also have to meet certain height and weight requirements.

Blood and platelet donors can save time at their next donation by using RapidPass to complete their pre-donation reading and health history questionnaire online, on the day of their donation, before arriving at the blood drive. To get started and learn more, visit redcrossblood.org/RapidPass or use the Blood Donor App.

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