Teen Battles Sickle Cell Anemia Through Education and Volunteer Efforts

Latay Hammick, 13, promotes the need for donors as she herself faces a blood disorder. Read Latay's full story in The Skanner and give patients a fighting chance; donate with the Red Cross and join the Be The Match and Donate Life Northwest registries.

MLK Blood, Bone Marrow, and Organ, Eye and Tissue Donor Registry Drives will be held in Salem and Bend on January 16 and January 21 in Portland

Those who wish to speak to Latay Hammick, her family, or a Be The Match or Donate Life Northwest representative in person will have the opportunity to do so at Portland's Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Blood, Bone Marrow, and Organ, Eye and Tissue Donor Registry Drive. This important event takes place on Saturday, January 21 from 7:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Red Cross Portland Donor Center (3131 N. Vancouver Avenue).

Also at the Portland event will be Donate Life Northwest heart recipient Rosie Tabb. Rosie has worked as an American Red Cross donor recruiter and received blood transfusions during her heart transplant. To make a potentially lifesaving blood donation at the Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Blood, Bone Marrow, and Organ, Eye and Tissue Donor Registry Drive, please call 1-800-RED CROSS or visit redcrossblood.org.

In honor of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., community members can donate blood, learn more about bone marrow, organ, eye, and tissue donation, and sign up for the donor registries at all three events. The Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Blood, Bone Marrow, and Organ, Eye and Tissue Donor Registry Drives are co-hosted by the American Red Cross, Be The Match and Donate Life Northwest.

All participants at this year’s Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Blood, Bone Marrow, and Organ, Eye and Tissue Donor Registry Drives will receive a free Martin Luther King, Jr. commemorative lapel pin (while supplies last). These blood drives will also give donors the chance to speak with the Red Cross about our volunteer programs, get informed about disaster preparedness, and share with other volunteers about programs that they may be involved in.

Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. symbolized equal access for all. This includes equal opportunity for the lifesaving gift of blood, bone marrow and organ, eye and tissue transplants. You can make an incredible difference with your donation.