District 103 blood drive helps students fighting cancer
Looking to help several students who are fighting cancer, Lincolnshire-Prairie View School District 103 volunteers assembled at Daniel Wright Junior High School in Lincolnshire April 26 for a LifeSource blood drive and Be The Match bone marrow registry effort.
The afternoon resulted in 39 bone marrow registries and 76 units of donated blood.
The event was organized in honor of Daniel Wright eighth-grader Kyra Roach, who is battling bone cancer, and 5-year-old Ava Lee, daughter of Half Day School fourth-grade teacher Esther Lee, who is battling a rare type of leukemia.
"People sometimes don't realize they can help, and donating blood is a great way to help cancer patients," Kyra said.
The eighth-grader says that she was touched by the support from her classmates, teachers and even strangers who attended.
"I can't even explain how thankful I am that they came out to donate," she added. "Just being able to be here and thank them is really special to me."
Esther Lee said bone marrow donors of Asian descent are few, and especially needed at this time by her daughter.
"One of the ways that they cure this leukemia is through a blood marrow transplant. The more people who register, the easier it will be for kids like Ava to have a second lease on life."
Forty-five teachers and staff members of District 103 came out to volunteer. Thirty-two of them or their family members donated blood, and many of those eligible added themselves to the bone marrow registry.
A group of Stevenson High School football players came and helped set up tables and supplies, carried boxes, passed out refreshments and then sat and made "thank you" cards for donors. Two 17-year old girls who attend the school also became first time blood donors.
Students from all three district schools - Daniel Wright Junior High, Half Day School and Sprague School - came to support their friends and the adult donors by making "thank you" cards.
Every donor left with a note from one of the kids; from radio personality Kathy Hart, who lives in Lincolnshire and also attended with her children; and a coupon for a pint of ice cream from Culvers.
Family members from three children fighting cancer this year came and donated blood: Kyra Roach's sister and parents, and Esther Lee donated blood, as did the mother of another student with leukemia who wanted to remain anonymous.