Memorial Health Foundation donated $3,000 to the American Red Cross Blood Saves Lives Fighting Cancer initiative

The Memorial Health Foundation recently announced a grant of $3,000 to support the American Red Cross' Blood Saves Lives Fighting Cancer initiative.

"We have always been active with the (Memorial) Health System and are very thrilled to have this partnership," said Sharon Kesselring, executive director of the American Red Cross of the Ohio River Valley.

The Memorial Health Foundation's board of trustees voted to award the grant because of the important role the American Red Cross plays in patient care within the Health System and throughout the region, a release from the foundation said. The grant will support the collection and processing of blood products for those in need in the area.

"We are collecting blood throughout the entire area, not just Memorial Health System," Kesselring said. "We can take that blood, process it, get it into a distribution system and have it available for patients fighting cancer when they need it."

According to the Red Cross, blood transfusions can be an essential part of the cancer treatment process, providing relief from some symptoms of those undergoing chemotherapy treatments.

Julie Dye and Jill Deming recently presented the grant on behalf of the foundation at Memorial Health System's first blood drive of 2024.

The next Memorial Health Foundation grant cycle opens on July 1. More information is available online at mhsystem.org/Foundation.