American Red Cross

OMAHA, Neb. (February 2, 2008) - One of the purest acts of charity a person can perform is giving without expecting anything in return. The people who donate platelets, plasma and double red cells to the American Red Cross are a perfect example of this selfless act of charity and community conscience.

On Tuesday, February 19th, more than 1,000 of these giving individuals will be honored at the Holiday Inn Convention Center during the 26th annual Red Cross Apheresis Chili Supper. John Knicely and Tracy Madden, WOWT 6 news anchors, will emcee the award ceremony, while apheresis nurses present awards to hundreds of regular platelet, plasma and double red cell donors, as well as people who have donated marrow or stem cells this past year.

Apheresis donations are different from whole blood donations. Apheresis donors let their blood "go for a spin" through a centrifuge machine, which separates blood into its red cell, platelet and plasma components. The unused components are then immediately returned to the donor. The separated portions of the blood component are then sent through highly regulated testing, labeling and distribution for use in lifesaving treatment of patients experiencing cancer, surgery, transplant or traumas. The actual donation process takes about two hours compared to the one hour for donating whole blood.

Guest speakers Nick & Nicole Owens will share how Red Cross platelet and red cell donations have helped their nine year-old daughter, Sydnee, fight her battle with a rare blood syndrome called Hemophagocytic Lymphohistiocytosis and Anaplastic Large Cell Lymphoma.  Sydnee has received more than 50 blood products for her treatment at Children’s Hospital in Omaha since June 2006 .
 
Because of the required anonymity, donors and recipients rarely get to meet each other. The Owens presence will allow donors to know someone whose life was directly impacted by their acts of generosity.

26th Annual Red Cross Apheresis Chili Supper
Tuesday, February 19th
Holiday Inn Convention Center
72nd and Grover Streets, Omaha
6:30 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.

Three new lifetime platelet donors in the Omaha area will receive the Russell Lambert Achievement Award. Larry Christian, Daniel Helfenbein and Laurence Lees will be honored for completing more than 500 apheresis donations.  Russell Lambert was the first to achieve this level in 2003 and will be donating his 700 donation in 2008.

How to Donate Blood and Blood Products
Simply call 1.800.GIVE.LIFE (1.800.448.3543) or visit givebloodgivelife.org to make an appointment or for more information. (Note: platelet, plasma and automated red cell or double red cell donation appointments cannot be made online at this time.) All blood types are needed to ensure a reliable supply for patients. A blood donor card or driver’s license, or two other forms of identification are required at check-in. Donors must be at least 17 years old, 16 years old with a signed parental consent form, and must weigh at least 110 pounds.

ABOUT THE RED CROSS
The Omaha, Neb.-based Midwest Region supplies blood products and specialized laboratory services to more than 80 hospitals in Nebraska, Iowa, Colorado and Kansas. In a lifesaving partnership with approximately 73,000 volunteer blood donors, 1,200 volunteer blood drive coordinators and 600 staff members, the Midwest Region organizes nearly 2,800 blood drives in an effort to collect more than 150,000 pints of blood each year for patients in need. The Midwest Region is one of four regions that make up the Mid-America Division of the American Red Cross Blood Services.

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