The American Red Cross has scheduled a blood drive at the Warriors Mark United Methodist Church on Monday, February 23 from 1 p.m. to 7 p.m.
This blood drive will be held in honor of Emily Waite, a 13-year-old eighth grade student at Tyrone Area Middle School and member of the Warriors Mark United Methodist Church.
She is the daughter of Sherry and Jeff Waite, and she also has a brother Josh.
Emily was diagnosed with non-Hodgkin’s Lymphoma in September 2003. Emily has used several blood products and is currently undergoing treatment.
She continuously receives chemotherapy treatments at Pittsburgh’s Children’s Hospital. Also, she has been through numerous Cat-scans, spinal taps, bone marrow tests and blood work.
Emily has been in remission since October and is in the third phase of treatments.
She is an active teenager and competes as a member of the Tyrone Area YMCA gymnastics team. She also has several pets, including two horses, two dogs and a hamster.
According to the Centre Communities Chapter of the American Red Cross, the blood that is donated at the drive will help to replenish the community blood supply that Emily used and will help others like Emily who are reliant on blood products to live.
Also at the blood drive scheduled to be held at the Warriors Mark United Methodist Church, the Red Cross will provide cards for the public to sign. The cards will then be sent to Emily.
If anyone is not eligible or cannot attend this drive, they may refer to the Red Cross web site at centre.redcross.org or call 237-2713 for other blood drives in the area.
For questions on eligibility, call the Red Cross at 1-800-54-BLOOD.
