A replacement blood drive for Max Hinton will be held on Sept. 21 from 1-6 p.m. Representatives from Central California Blood Center will operate a bloodmobile in the high school parking lot. Donors must be 17 years old or 16 with parental consent.

Campus first grader Max Hinton was diagnosed with neuroblastoma on April 20 and needs blood for his treatment. The goal of the blood drive is to bank blood for his future treatments.

Neuroblastoma, a cancerous tumor that develops from nerve tissue, most often occurs in infants and children. One out of every 100,000 kids can be diagnosed with this disease. Though it can be found in both male and female patients, it occurs more often in boys under age 5.

This drive, planned to be a competition, is open to both FC and Peoples School of Creative Arts. There are sign-up sheets available at school or with Peoples Church.

The goal for every drive differs with the bus size. Two large mobiles, which can treat six people at a time, require a minimum of 45 pints. Last year the school donated over 50 pints.

Each donor will receive a free T-shirt and will be entered into a raffle for $50 toward tuition. Three winners from each school will win the raffle.

Lynne Mushines of Peoples Church and Bible teacher Robert Foshee are coordinating this blood drive.

“Not everyone can donate directly to him [Hinton],” Mushines said. “Those who do will make it available to him as he needs it. But when you think about how many people need blood — surgeries, car accidents and in hospitals — every donation helps.”

If the blood does not match Hinton’s, it is used to help others in need. The Blood Center serves constituents from Bakersfield to Redding and from the coast to Mammoth.

Senior Bridget Teixeira is taking this opportunity to donate blood for the first time.

“Since I am promoting it for leadership, I of course want to give blood also,” Teixeira said. “I’m excited but nervous, because I have the smallest veins in the entire world. But it’s good to know I only have to give blood to make someone’s life so much easier. If you’re healthy, why not give something as simple as blood so you can save someone’s life?”

In addition to students, the blood drive is open to teachers and parents, Teixeira said.

“We want to encourage parents to donate blood too,” Teixeira said. “It’s a school-wide event.”

Last May, the first blood drive was held for Hinton. The coordinators, Michelle Devereaux and Foshee, wanted to show school support.

“One pint can help not only one person, but they can use it in seven different ways,” Foshee said. “It can help people we know and also many people we don’t know.”

Check out the promo video below. For more information, call the school office at 299.1695 or Peoples Church at 298.8001. For coverage of the past blood drive, Blood drive to support Max Hinton.

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