KCRAR is inviting its members to give back during its second annual blood drive event. On July 25, the American Red Cross will be at the KCRAR Leawood office between 11 a.m. and 4 p.m. to accept blood donations.
The Red Cross has been collecting blood for over 75 years, and they need to collect about 12,500 blood donations and more than 2,700 platelet donations each day. Each pint of blood they collect can help save more than one life and will touch the lives of many more. Kansas City REALTORS® can help give back to the community with the Red Cross to strengthen the blood supply by donating at the blood drive.
The idea to host an annual blood drive came a year ago from the KCRAR member volunteers on the Events & Outreach Advisory Group and their close connection with the cause. Kansas City REALTOR® Phyllis Cronbaugh shared why blood donation is close to her heart.
“In 1995, my husband was diagnosed with a rare form of Leukemia. He was 52 years old,” she said. “The chemo killed his bone marrow; the only thing that kept him alive while we waited for a miracle was a complete blood transfusion every three days. The miracle didn’t happen, but it allowed me to spend six more weeks with the love of my life. After that, I vowed to give blood every eight weeks, and I have.”
Appointments to donate at the blood drive are available through the Red Cross. A standard blood donation will take about one hour for donors.
