The Times Herald (Norristown, PA)
Bobby Natalini Jr. Blood Drive set for Nov. 24 at St. Titus
EAST NORRITON » Since 2003, the Bobby Natalini, Jr. Blood Drive has collected more than 1,980 blood donations and helped save 5,949 lives. And each year friends, former Norristown Area High School classmates and family of Natalini, who died in 2002 from a rare bone disease, come on in honor of the East Norriton native to help save more lives.
The 19th Annual Bobby Natalini Jr. Blood Drive will be held at St. Titus Church, 3006 Keenwood Drive, East Norriton, Nov. 24, 2021 from 1 to 7 p.m.
To make an appointment, visit redcrossblood.org and enter sponsor code “Natalini.”
You can also call 1-800-RedCross, or download the Blood Donor app.
Bobby Natalini Jr. attended Norristown Area High School. After being diagnosed with osteosarcoma, a type of bone cancer, he received multiple blood transfusions. The blood he received from anonymous donors granted him more time with family and friends during his three year battle with the disease. He passed away in 2002, just two months before his 18th birthday.
“We originally started it the day before Thanksgiving, mostly because we knew Bobby’s friends would be home from college,” according to Natalini’s mother, Debbie Natalini. “We wanted to be thankful, even though we had such a loss and we wanted to give back to all the people who were so supportive of us during the three years that Bobby had been sick on and off. The Red Cross didn’t think that was a good time that people would want to come out but they did and so we kept with it. The date changes but it’s always Thanksgiving Eve.”
Guy Triano, CEO for
“We originally started it the day before Thanksgiving, mostly because we knew Bobby’s friends would be home from college. We wanted to be thankful, even though we had such a loss and we wanted to give back to all the people who were so supportive of us during the three years that Bobby had been sick on and off. The Red Cross didn’t think that was a good time that people would want to come out but they did and so we kept with it. The date changes but it’s always Thanksgiving Eve.”
— Natalini’s mother, Debbie Natalini
the American Red Cross Southeastern Pennsylvania Region, noted in 2020, “Patients from across our region rely on the generosity of blood donors and blood drive hosts to ensure they have access to lifesaving treatments during this pandemic. The Red Cross is grateful to the Natalini family for their continued dedication to our mission. This year’s blood drive may look a different, but its impact remains critical.”
For the 2021 blood drive, the Natalinis will follow the CDC and FDA guidelines for the COVID-19 pandemic. And while the drive will have a different nuance from past events, the goal is always the same.
“It’s a tradition that I don’t want to break. Even though we can’t do it the way we want to we’re still going to do it to remember Bobby and hopefully get some donations,” said Natalini. “Although we will not be there to greet and thank each of your, please know that we will be there in spirit.”