Wednesday, January 14, 2015

Annual blood drive to be held in memory of local woman

KANSAS CITY, KAN. – Shonda Stanley was a proponent of blood donations and a supporter of local blood drives.

Because of this dedication, her alma mater, family and friends are joining the American Red Cross to remember Stanley with a blood drive in her name on Jan. 26, nearly four years after her death.

“Shonda was really big about coordinating and supporting blood drives,” said Meredith Smith, Stanley’s softball coach at the University of Missouri-Kansas City. “It seemed natural for us to continue in her memory.”

Blood donors of all types, particularly O negative, A negative and B negative, are urged to make an appointment to give blood at the fourth annual Shonda Stanley Memorial Blood Drive, sponsored by the University of Missouri-Kansas City, to help ensure patient needs can continue to be met this winter.

Donate Blood in Memory of Shonda Stanley
Monday, Jan. 26
9 a.m. to 2 p.m.
University of Missouri-Kansas City Swinney Recreation Center
5030 Holmes St. in Kansas City

To make an appointment to donate, visit redcrossblood.org and enter sponsor code: UMKCSoftball.

January is National Blood Donor Month and is one of the most difficult times of the year to collect enough blood products to meet patient needs.

Many parts of the country are experiencing inclement winter weather and seasonal flu epidemics, which impact the ability of blood donors to give.

The Red Cross urges healthy donors who have made a commitment to donate at the Shonda Stanley Memorial Blood Drive, or other local drives during the winter months, to keep their appointments. Each appointment kept, and each donation given, offers hope to a patient in need.