By Alana Mauger

The American Red Cross and 6abc held their fifth and largest annual Red Cross Month blood drive on March 26, collecting 363 units of blood – 125 over last year’s total – to help patients in the Delaware Valley and beyond.

This year saw the addition of a new location – Delaware Valley University in Doylestown – to the previous drive sites at Courtyard by Marriott in the Wynnefield Heightssection of Philadelphia and the Collingswood Grand Ballroom in Collingswood, New Jersey.

“Every two seconds, someone needs blood. The need is constant, and it’s the blood on the shelves today that helps us in emergencies that may happen tomorrow,” said Red Cross Southeastern Pennsylvania CEO Jennifer Graham, who was on hand to thank donors at the drive’s Philadelphia location.

President and General Manager Bernie Prezenika was among the many 6abc employees who made time to donate.

“Excited that our viewers respond,” he shared before donating. “People of the Delaware Valley always turn out for their neighbors.”

Since 2021, the annual drive has collected 1,097 units of blood.

Some donations come from those giving for the very first time, like 6abc intern Alexander O’Connor, who is a senior at University of Pennsylvania.

“I thought I would be afraid of the needle, but it was over so fast!” he shared after his donation, promising that it won’t be his last.

Alex came over to the Wynnefield drive location with the 6abc Community Engagement Coordinator Marguerite Faison, who has been giving blood since age 17. She proudly held up a blue tag that was later affixed to her completed blood donation, marking it as a possible match for someone living with sickle cell disease.

“What is most important to me is that people living with sickle cell disease getting the services they need,” she said. For many, those services include blood transfusions.

Sickle cell disease is the most common genetic blood disorder in the U.S., impacting more than 100,000 people across the country and affecting one out of every 365 African American births. For sickle cell warriors, repeated transfusions may cause an immune response to blood from donors that is not closely matched to their own. However, 1 in 3 Black blood donors is a match for someone living with sickle cell disease.  

6abc covered several stories leading up March 26th to help promote blood drive appointments.

One of those featured retired Philadelphia Police Officer Ashley Hoggard, who needed blood transfusions after he was shot in the line of duty in 2009.

For the second story, 6abc reporter Alyana Gomez spoke with Red Cross Delaware Valley Chapter Board member Dave Thomas and his wife Jillian, who have a healthy baby boy, thanks in part to generously donated blood. Jillian lives with Diamond-Blackfan anemia, a rare bone marrow disorder that impairs the production of red blood cells. She received regular blood transfusions throughout her pregnancy – and throughout her life.

For the final story, 6abc’s Vice President of Community Engagement Nikki Hawkins shared a very personal story about how her attempts to give blood at the first three 6abc blood drives led her to a medical diagnosis for which she is now being treated.

There is no substitute for generously donated blood. It is essential for surgeries, cancer treatment, chronic illnesses, and traumatic injuries. Whether a patient receives whole blood, red cells, platelets or plasma, this lifesaving care starts with one person making a generous donation. Schedule a blood donation appointment at RedCrossBlood.org.