Accessibility Statement

Blood Drive to Support 8-Year-Old Versailles Patient Set for Feb. 27 Feb. 16, 2016

Baily is Battling Neuroblastoma and Needs Donors Help

Baily Ford

LEXINGTON, Ky. – Eight-year-old Baily Ford of Versailles is fighting a big fight. Diagnosed with neuroblastoma in 2011, she has undergone numerous rounds of chemotherapy, two stem cell transplants and 20 radiation treatments. Yet she’s still battling.

In her fight against this cancer, Baily has continually required red cell, platelet and plasma transfusions.

To help ensure a strong blood supply for Baily and other Kentucky patients who need transfusions, Baily’s family and friends have organized a blood drive at the new Versailles Kroger on Saturday, Feb. 27 from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. For the convenience of donors, there will be two Kentucky Blood Center bloodmobiles parked in the lot.

Donors can also give at any Kentucky Blood Center donor center. There are two locations in Lexington – Beaumont at 3121 Beaumont Centre Circle and Andover at 3130 Maple Leaf Drive in the Andover Shoppes. Both centers are open Mondays and Friday, 8 a.m. to 6 p.m.; Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday, 10 a.m. to 7 p.m.; and Saturday, 8 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Walk-ins are welcome, or appointments can be made by visiting kybloodcenter.org or calling 800.775.2522.

Blood donors must be 17 years old (16 with parental consent), weigh at least 110 pounds, be in general good health, show a photo I.D. and meet additional requirements. Sixteen-year-old donors must have a signed parental permission slip, which can be found at kybloodcenter.org.

About Kentucky Blood Center

Founded nearly 50 years ago, Kentucky Blood Center (KBC) is the largest independent, full-service, non-profit blood center in Kentucky. Licensed by the FDA, KBC’s sole purpose is to collect, process and distribute blood for patients in Kentucky hospitals. 

Every two seconds someone needs blood. It could be a premature infant struggling for life, a firefighter suffering from burns, a neighbor undergoing chemotherapy treatment for leukemia, a truck driver injured in an auto accident or a young student with a congenital blood disorder. It’s for those patients and more that KBC exists. 

All blood that is donated with KBC is returned to the Beaumont Donor Center where it is processed, prepared and stored for shipment to Kentucky hospitals. 

Blood needs are ongoing. Red cells last only 42 days and must be continually replenished to adequately support Kentucky hospitals. Statistics show that one in seven hospital patients will require blood transfusions during their stay. However, only 37 percent of the population is eligible to donate blood and less than 10 percent does. All blood types are needed, and there is a particular need for type O negative blood since it is the “universal donor” and needed in emergencies when the patient’s blood type is unknown.

The blood already on the shelf is the blood used in an emergency. That’s why KBC is always encouraging people to donate blood.