Blood drive to benefit Ohio woman with leukemia

The drive is to replenish the Cleveland woman's blood supply.
SNPJ, Pa. -- A bone-marrow typing and replenishment blood drive for Lisa Ashcroft is set for 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday at the SNPJ Recreation Center in the old heritage room.
A long-time member of the Slovene National Benefit Society, Ashcroft, 45, of Cleveland, was recently diagnosed with chronic lymphoblastic leukemia, which is a cancer that involves abnormal, mature lymphocytes of the body.
With CLL there is a marked increase in the number of abnormal lymphocytes partly because of prolonged cell survival. The abnormal cells accumulate in blood, bone marrow, lymph nodes and spleen, resulting in enlargement of these organs and decreased bone marrow and immune function. Since her diagnosis, Ashcroft has been receiving chemotherapy treatments and blood and platelet transfusions at the Cleveland Clinic.
Sponsoring drive
Friends and family are sponsoring this special blood drive to help replenish the blood Ashcroft is using. Because Ashcroft is also a candidate for a bone marrow transplant but at this point does not have a match, anyone donating blood at this drive may elect to become a member of the National Marrow Donor Program (at no charge) by completing additional paperwork and having an extra sample drawn.
Those interested in donating may contact Jennifer Wisneski at (724) 336-6942 or Central Blood Bank at (866) 366-6771.
Blood donors must be at least 17 years old, weigh at least 110 pounds and be in generally good health. Proper identification is required to donate blood. A Central Blood Bank or military ID, driver's license, or employee badge with picture and full name are all approved forms of ID. Marrow donors must be between ages 18 and 60.