Red Cross Blood Drives Set For Haddonfield, Oaklyn

The American Red Cross will host blood drives in Haddonfield and Oaklyn in September amid Childhood Cancer Awareness Month.

The drive in Haddonfield will take place on Sept. 3, 2 p.m. to 7 p.m. at Grace Episcopal Church, 19 Kings Highway East.

The drive in Oaklyn will take place on Sept. 12, 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. at St. Mark's Lutheran Church, 409 White Horse Pike.

The National Cancer Institute estimates that more than 15,000 children and adolescents in the U.S. are diagnosed with cancer each year. Childhood cancer patients may need blood products on a regular basis during chemotherapy, surgery or treatment for complications.

Cancer and cancer treatments can put patients at risk for low red blood cell and platelet counts. Some types of chemotherapy can damage bone marrow, lowering the production of red blood cells and platelets. Cancers such as leukemia and lymphoma attack the bone marrow as well. Blood transfusions can enable patients to receive critical treatments needed to fight and survive cancer.

Blood and platelet donations are needed to ensure blood products are available for pediatric cancer patients and others throughout this pandemic. As a thank-you, those who give blood from Sept. 4-8 will receive a pair of Red Cross branded socks, while supplies last.

Make an appointment to donate by downloading the free Red Cross Blood Donor App, visiting RedCrossBlood.org, calling 1-800-RED CROSS (1-800-733-2767) or enabling the Blood Donor Skill on any Alexa Echo device.

Blood drives are also essential in helping ensure blood is available for patients this winter. To learn more and sign up to host a blood drive this fall and winter, visit RedCrossBlood.org/HostADrive.