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Hogan, Red Cross team up for blood drive

Posted at 10:03 PM, Sep 15, 2015
and last updated 2015-09-15 22:03:06-04

To help bring awareness to World Lymphoma Awareness Day, the Red Cross of Maryland held a blood drive and a bone marrow registry in front of the Governor’s mansion Tuesday.

Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan, who is battling non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma, stopped by to lend his support.

“This was the first time we ever had the blood drive here at the State House. That doesn't make any sense to me. We should do it every year,” he said. “It's almost painless, it doesn’t take that long and you could save somebody's life.”

Willing donors gave blood and some even were entered into the bone marrow registry to see if they are a match for a bone marrow transplant. Members of Hogan’s staff took a break from work to come down and help.

“Because I think helping others in need are probable one of the most important things that we can take time out of our day to do,” Kelly Schulz said.

When you donate blood, you have a chance to save up to three lives. With people out of town on vacation and busy getting back to school this is usually when blood supplies diminish.

“So we're really trying to stock the shelves now that schools have started and people are back to work. The governor’s blood drive came at the perfect time to help us do that,” Steve Mavica, of the American Red Cross, said.

To become part of the bone marrow registry, you just have to swab a Q-tip in your cheek. It literally just takes seconds to do.

“If you could do something in 15 or 30 seconds to possibly save someone's life, why wouldn't you do it?” Kara Bowman said.