Vitalant joins the fight against breast cancer in October

Over 4 million people in the U.S. are breast cancer survivors, including those still battling the disease, and Vitalant wants to help, according to a press release.

The nonprofit Vitalant is encouraging everyone who is eligible to donate blood in October to show their support by donating during Breast Cancer Awareness Month, the release said.

Each blood donation can help more than one patient, the statement says.

It is the blood that has already been donated and ready for use that makes the difference when a patient is in need, the statement says.

As a special thank you, Vitalant is gifting donors through October 5th through the Donor Rewards program with an “Instant Costume” t-shirt in time for Halloween and a chance to win the Pumpkin Spice Giveaway, which includes one of five $5,000 prizes. Gifts include prepaid gift cards of their choice, the release said.

From October 27th to 31st, donors will have one last chance to receive the Instant Costume T-shirt through the Donor Rewards program and a chance to win the Epic Treats Giveaway with one of three $5,000 gift cards. Dollars to be won, the press release says.

Learn more and schedule an appointment at vitalant.org, download and use the Vitalant app, or call 877-25-VITAL (877-258-4825).

Upcoming blood drives

• From 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Oct. 4 in the cafeteria conference room at University Hospitals Elyria Medical Center, 630 E. River St. in Elyria.

• From 8:30 a.m. to noon, Oct. 5, at the Avon Lake Olde Firehouse, 100 Avon Belden Road in Avon Lake.

• From 9 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Oct. 6, St. Clarence Church Meeting Room, 30106 Lorain Road in North Olmsted.

• From 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Oct. 12 at Findley State Park, 25381 State Route 58 in Wellington.

• From 9 a.m. to 12:15 p.m. Oct. 20 at Ascent Church, 3550 Crocker Road in Westlake.

• From 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Oct. 27 at Kipton Community Church, 511 Church St. in Kipton.

Vitalant is one of the nation's largest not-for-profit blood and biotherapies healthcare organizations, providing safe blood supplies, specialized laboratory services, transfusion medicine expertise and world-renowned research to hospitals and patients across the U.S., the release said.

Generous blood donations, volunteer and financial donations are essential to Vitalant's life-saving mission, the press release said.

Learn more at vitalant.org.