More than 125 kids and their families participated in LifeSouth Community Blood Centers’ Five Points of Life Kids Marathon on May 5 at Gwinnett Braves’ Cool-Ray Field.
To participate, kids ran a total of 25 miles throughout the school year until May 5, where they ran the last 1.2 miles. First time in Georgia, the marathon was held by LifeSouth’s support affiliate, The Five Points of Life Foundation.
Foundation Director Brite Whitaker said, “We want to raise awareness to our youth about the importance of ‘donation’ and how it saves lives. The marathon also teaches our kids to be active so our future generation, the ‘donation generation’, is a healthy one.” The foundation ties in the importance of donation through hands-on classroom curriculums that aim to reach 12,000 kids annually.
Danielle Schmidt, of Roswell, suffers from immune thrombocytopenic purpura, a low platelet disorder. The disease requires Schmidt to receive regular platelet transfusions. “There is always someone who has an immediate need for blood or platelets just to maintain a healthy life,” said Schmidt.
The five points of donation are cord blood, blood, marrow, platelets, and organ and tissue donations. Thirty-seven percent of the population is eligible to donate, but only five percent do.
“There is always a shortage and there will always be a need,” said Development Coordinator Michael Becker. “Cases like Danielle’s are a reason LifeSouth is getting involved and encouraging youth about donations. It is something that no one thinks about, but ‘donating’ is a great way to give back to your own community.”
Started in 1996, The Five Points of Life Foundation includes the Five Points of Life Bicycle Ride, 26.2 mile marathon, and 13.1 half marathon in an effort to promote life-giving donations awareness and healthy, active lifestyles .LifeSouth Community Blood Centers serve over 22 hospitals in Georgia.
For information on LifeSouth Community Blood Centers, visit www.lifesouth.org
In Other News: The 2nd Annual Dresden Restaurant Crawl for A Cure, held on April 25, raised $5,000 for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society. The money raised will go towards LLS' mission to cure leukemia, lymphoma, Hodgkin's disease and myeloma , and improve the quality of life of patients and their families
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