Virtual Blood Drive

My younger brother Alton Sessions received many a blood transfusion over the course of his battle with Leukemia as a toddler. My family can confidently say that he is the healthy 9 year old he is today because of the selfless acts of anonymous blood donors. I will never be able to meet or thank the countless individuals who kept my brother’s white blood cell count healthy, but I can show my appreciation through donating blood and continuing the cycle of human kindness that Vitalent facilitates. Here are some surprising facts about blood donation, as presented by the Stanford Blood Center: - A single blood donation can save up to 3 lives! - 1 in 7 patients in a hospital will need blood when entering. That adds up: there are more than 30 MILLION hospitalized in the US over the course of the year. - Every 2 seconds, someone in the United States needs a blood transfusion - You can donate before you turn 18! 16/17 year olds(depends on the state) can be allowed to participate if the bring a signed parental consent form that you can find attached in Vitalent’s official site. It’s completely normal to be nervous, especially if it’s your first time. Reach out to your friends, and go as group! Pump each other up, and eat some of the provided snacks and drinks after your turn. If you have questions or are unsure on how to prepare for donating blood, don’t be afraid to ask questions. There are so many amazing resources online, from what foods to eat for optimal steadiness to amazing stories of blood donations that you can peruse to hype yourself up. Additionally, by using the link provided in this profile, you’re actually helping to fund my college education! This platform serves as a fundraiser for teenagers invested in their community who want to pursue some form of higher education immediately after high school. If you look at the chart included below, you can see how the manner of donation you choose can help me reach my goal. I am currently aiming to connect with more than 250 donors; a big goal, but I think we can do this! So please use my scholarship code GiveHope-0683-N when registering, and be confident in your knowledge that you are helping broaden my education while simultaneously saving lives. I call that a half hour well spent! Donation Types + Number of Associated Credits (120+ credits will grant me the largest scholarship!) Platelets: 4 (about 2 hours) Power Red: 3 (less than an hour) Plasma: 3 (less than an hour Whole Blood: 2 (less than an hour) Donor Presented, but Unable to Donate: 1