SAN DIEGO–Lifelong blood donor Greg Cox kicked off the 26th annual County blood drive Tuesday, an event that is being dedicated to an employee who has organized dozens of blood drives and now needs transfusions himself to fight leukemia.
“We will be able to help save lives in our community, including one of our own employees who uses blood as part of his treatment,” said Supervisor Greg Cox, District 1.
Supervisor Cox has donated 112 pints of blood over the years, and encourages employees to do the same. This year, they will help patients like fellow employee Juan Olmeda, a border health assistant in the County Health and Human Services Agency who was recently diagnosed with leukemia. He will continue to need blood when he receives a bone marrow transplant later this year. Before his illness, he volunteered as a blood drive organizer, coordinating more than 100 drives.
The County blood drive will take place throughout the month of April at 24 County sites. The public is welcome. The County blood drive is one of the San Diego Blood Bank’s largest and most successful collection events. Employees donated 600 pints at last year’s event.
To make an appointment or find out the physical requirements for donating blood, visit www.sandiegobloodbank.org.