Give hope to cancer patients by giving blood

WEST CHESTER >> October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month – the perfect time to give blood or platelets to support cancer patients and others.

Anna Gwinnup, a loving wife, mother and grandmother, was diagnosed with stage 1 breast cancer in September 2017. Within weeks, it advanced to stage 2, forcing her to undergo a double mastectomy, chemotherapy and multiple surgeries, which required blood products.

Though she was a blood donor prior to her diagnosis, Gwinnup now has a new passion for the cause. “I want to raise awareness about the need for blood to treat cancer,” she said.

Cancer patients may need red blood cell or platelet transfusions during chemotherapy, surgery or treatment for complications.

Donors of all blood types are needed to help ensure a sufficient supply for patients this fall, especially after Hurricane Florence and subsequent flooding forced the cancellation of more than 6,000 blood and platelet donations last month.

Make an appointment to donate blood by downloading the free American Red Cross Blood Donor App, visiting RedCrossBlood. org or calling 1-800-RED CROSS (1-800-733-2767).

As a thank-you, those who come to donate blood or platelets in October will automatically be entered to win one of five $500 gift cards redeemable at hundreds of merchants. Learn more at RedCrossBlood.org/ GoForGoal.

Upcoming blood donation opportunities Oct. 16 to Oct. 31 in Chester County:

American Red Cross Blood Donation Center WEST CHESTER BLOOD DONATION CENTER

523 East Gay St., West Chester

Monday - Thursday: 11:45 a.m. to 7:45 p.m. (whole blood)

Friday - Sunday: 7:15 a.m. to 3 p.m. (whole blood & platelet pheresis).

BERWYN

Oct. 21: 9 a.m. to 2 p.m., Congregation Or Shalom, 835 Darby-Paoli Road. Exton Oct. 28: 8 a.m. to 1 p.m., Clarion at Exton, 815 N. Pottstown Pike

Oct. 29: 12 p.m. to 5 p.m., West Chester School District Administration Building, 782 Springdale Road.

KENNETT SQUARE

Oct. 24: 2 p.m. to7 p.m., St. Patrick’s Church, 212 Meredith St. Malvern Oct. 16: 10 a.m.to 3 p.m., Arbor Ridge, 72 E. Swedesford Road.

PARKESBURG

Oct. 30: 2:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m., VFW Post No. 4480, 406 Fourth Ave.

PHOENIXVILLE

Oct. 19: 2 p.m. to 7 p.m., YMCA, 400 E. Pothouse Road

Oct. 24: 1 p.m. - 6 p.m., University of Valley Forge, Capeci Hall, 40 Pine Crest St.

WEST CHESTER

Oct. 16: 9 a.m. to 2 p.m., West Chester University, Sykes Student Union, 110 W. Rosedale Ave.

Oct. 18: 2 p.m. to 7 p.m., Calvary Lutheran Church, 730 S. New St.

Oct. 22: 2 p.m. to 7 p.m., Stetson Middle School, 1060 Wilmington Pike

Oct. 22: 2 p.m. to 7 p.m., E. N. Peirce Middle School, 1314 Burke Road

Oct. 24: 2 p.m. to 7 p.m., St. Maximilian Kolbe School, 15 E. Pleasant Grove Road.

Oct. 30: 1 p.m. to 6 p.m., First Presbyterian Church of West Chester, 130 W. Miner St.

WEST GROVE

Oct. 30: 7:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., Jennersville Hospital, 1015 W. Baltimore Pike.