In honor of Give to the Max Day this November, Boreal Community Media (BCM) is organizing “Give Life to the Max,” a community event focused on the gift of life. The event offers three ways for community members to give, including a blood drive and a blood stem cell donor registration drive, alongside an opportunity to support BCM’s non-profit mission.
Give Life: Blood Donation Drive
BCM, in partnership with Memorial Blood Centers, will host a blood donation drive on Tuesday, November 18, from 9:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. The Memorial Blood Center bus will be parked at The Hub in Grand Marais.
Earlier this year, Minnesota faced a critical blood shortage, with less than a two-day supply available, as reported by Memorial Blood Centers. Blood donations are used in treatments for trauma patients, those undergoing major surgeries, cancer patients, those who are pregnant, organ donation recipients, and individuals with conditions like sickle cell anemia.
Local community member Ashley Konop shared her experience with BCM, stating that she required four bags of blood following a sudden medical emergency where severe blood loss caused her hemoglobin to drop to a critically low level. “I am so thankful to people who donate blood, you are truly giving people life,” Konop said.
Blood drive details:
• Date/Time: Tuesday, November 18, 9:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.
• Location: The Hub parking lot, Grand Marais.
• Appointment: All donors must schedule an appointment in advance at bit.ly/4ojxNTE.
• Alternative: A separate blood drive, hosted by the West End Community, is scheduled for November 17 in Tofte for anyone who wants to donate but cannot make the November 18 date.
• Thank You: Every donor will receive a free Boreal Community Media mug.
Give Life: Blood Stem Cell Donor Registry
BCM staff and board members will be on-site at The Hub from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on November 18 to coordinate a blood stem cell donor registration event with partner NMDP (formerly bethematch.org). Joining the national registry involves a simple cheek swab at The Hub. Organizations like NMDP use Human Leukocyte Antigen (HLA) typing to match donors with patients suffering from blood disorders and cancers such as leukemia and lymphoma.
Approximately 70% of patients who need a transplant must find a compatible, non-family donor, relying on the registry. The registry has an ongoing need for younger donors (ages 18-35) and those from diverse ethnic backgrounds.
Robert Hackett, a community member diagnosed with Myelofibrosis (a form of bone marrow cancer), shared his story of receiving a life-saving stem cell transplant from an anonymous, unrelated donor after none of his family members were a match. Hackett encourages others to register, stating, “To anyone thinking of joining the registry for donations, let me encourage you to give back a life to someone like me! The journey is hard, but as I always told my children, at the end of our communications: With hope, we have everything!”
Blood stem cell donor registry details:
• Date/Time: Tuesday, November 18, 10 a.m. – 2 p.m.
• Location: Inside The Hub, Grand Marais.
• Process: You do the cheek swab, and we’ll send in the kits.
• Thank You: Every individual who swabs for the registry will receive a free Boreal Community Media mug.
Give Your Support
The third opportunity to participate in “Give Life to the Max” is by providing financial support to Boreal Community Media. As a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization, BCM shares daily news updates, community stories, a free event calendar, free classified ads, and hosts community events. Financial gifts in honor of Give to the Max Day directly fund these initiatives and operational needs.
Learn more or give support to BCM online at boreal.org.
Boreal Community Media extends thanks to Memorial Blood Centers, NMDP, and The Hub for their partnership in making this community event possible.
