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PTC Scout organizes blood drive

Bone marrow donors also sought for testing; money needed to reduce cost

By JOHN MUNFORD
jmunford@TheCitizenNews.com

A Peachtree City Boy Scout is organizing a blood drive with the American Red Cross Wednesday, July 21, from 1-6 p.m. at Holy Trinity Catholic Church.

Brett Bartels, a member of Troop 175, noted that the blood supply is critically low during the summer months. Red Cross officials attribute the shortage to vacationing donors and the lack of blood drives in high schools and colleges, which provide roughly 20 percent of Georgia’s blood supply during the school year.

Bartels, a rising junior at Our Lady of Mercy High School, said participants in the blood drive can also have their blood tested so they can be placed on the national bone marrow registry.

Unlike blood donation, which is free, the bone marrow tests cost $75 for Caucasians, Bartels said. The tests are free for minorities thanks to a federal grant due to the shortage of minority donors, he noted.

“When more donors are placed on this list, patients with leukemia or other diseases in desperate need of bone marrow transplants increase their chance of finding a donor,” Bartels said.

Bartels, 16, is seeking funds to defray the costs of those who choose to have their blood tested for the bone marrow transplant registry.

“Minority bone marrow donors are especially in need, as only 58 percent of minority patients in need of a bone marrow transplant are able to find a perfect match on the marrow registry,” Bartels said.

The bone marrow blood test will also be performed by the American Red Cross, Bartels said. Bartels said he got the idea to add the bone marrow testing to the drive from his mother, who is already a donor on the national bone marrow registry.

The blood and bone marrow donation drive is serving as Bartels’ Eagle Scout Leadership Service Project.

Donors are encouraged to call or e-mail Bartels to schedule an appointment, which should keep the donation process down to about an hour, said the 16-year-old. Walk-ins will also be accepted, Bartels added.

Bartels may be reached at 770-631-9794 or by e-mail at kyle@peoplepc.com.