Fourth Annual Kristin Oliver Blood Drive Set for April 27

Kristin Oliver always wanted to make a difference.

Whether it was buying coats for a mother who couldn’t afford them for her three children or donating blood for a young boy in the community who was diagnosed with leukemia, Kristin was always looking to help others, said her mother Pam Oliver.

When Kristin was diagnosed with a rare cancer of the heart, cardiac sarcoma at the age of 29, Oliver said that she assured her daughter during her fight against that disease that “your life is going to make a difference.”

Kristin died two years after her diagnosis in June 2020 at the age of 31.

On April 27, Pam and her husband Kelvin Oliver, will continue to honor the promise to Kristin that her life would make a difference by holding a blood drive that they established in Kristin’s honor in 2021.

“This is something Kristin would do,” Pam Oliver said. “She can still save someone’s life. She is our little light that continues to shine on in our hearts.”

Pam Oliver said she learned a lot about blood supplies during Kristin’s journey with cancer. Under high-intensity chemotherapy, Kristin’s bone marrow cells were damaged and she needed regular blood transfusions.

Recent high profile cases such as Kate Middleton’s cancer diagnosis are examples of cancer cases growing more common among adults younger than 50 in the United States and around the world. By 2030, one recent study estimated, the number of these early-onset cancer diagnoses could increase by roughly 30 percent worldwide—and the number of people who die from their conditions could rise by about 20 percent.

Kristin’s experience with cancer opened Oliver’s her eyes to the fact that blood donations are needed not only during major disasters, but are also essential for surgeries, cancer treatments, chronic illnesses and traumatic injuries. Someone needs blood every two seconds, according to Versiti Blood Centers.

“There’s a need, and a lot of people don’t understand that,” Oliver said. “It’s always needed. You just never know when your need might come. There is a demand, and not just when there is a shortage.”

Oliver also learned how important blood donations from people of color can be for her community. While “blood is blood” in a pinch, Oliver said she found out patients experience the best outcomes when they receive donations from people of similar ethnic backgrounds. All of that led to the idea for blood drive.

“We need a diverse supply,” Oliver said. “We just want to help our community and encourage people of color to be part of the process on a regular basis.”

In addition to collecting blood donations, the family is also asking people to bring a grocery store gift card or monetary donation to help The Center for Food Equity in Medicine address food insecurity for those living with chronic conditions such as cancer. Kristin is a posthumous member of the organization’s board of directors. The Center, which is based in Flossmoor, provides food for people facing health challenges in the Chicago area.

The blood drive will take place from 10:30 a.m. to 2:45 p.m., Saturday, April 27 at Sgt. Means Park, 20712 Western Ave., in Olympia Fields. Donors are encouraged to schedule appointments in advance by calling 1-800-7TO-GIVE.