School Blood Drive In Honor Of A Teacher Battling Leukemia

NORTH SALEM, NY — A kindergarten teacher's struggle with leukemia has inspired a Westchester community to take action.

Pequenakonck Elementary School and New York Blood Center (NYBC) are hosting a blood drive to honor teacher Victoria Lodewick. The kindergarten teacher is battling leukemia and relies on blood transfusions for treatment. She has received over 20 transfusions thanks to donations from blood donors.

Now, the community has organized a blood drive to help Lodewick and others in her position.

A blood drive in her honor will take place on May 19, from 10:00 a.m. – 7:00 p.m. at the Pequenakonck Elementary School gym.

While donating blood is always a good idea, organizers say highlighting Lodewick’s plight is a good way to remind the community that their donations save lives. According to the NYBC, roughly one in seven hospital admissions require a blood transfusion.

Those who benefit most from blood donations include cancer patients, moms and newborn babies, transplant recipients, surgery patients and chronically transfused patients suffering from diseases such as sickle cell or thalassemia. Any one of us could find ourselves the next one in need of live-saving blood donations. Accident, burn, or trauma victims are also likely candidates for transfusions at the hospital.

New York Blood Center representatives are taking extra precautions to help prevent the person-to-person spread of coronavirus. Those with a cold, sore throat, respiratory infection or flu-like symptoms will not be eligible to donate. Additional information on donor eligibility and coronavirus precautions is available here.

Sign up to donate at nybc.org or by calling 1-800-933-2566.