Annual Blood Drive Goes Beyond Donating Blood to Matters of the Heart

Kristin Oliver always wanted to make a difference.

Whether it was buying coats for a mother who couldn’t afford them for her three children or donating blood for a young boy in the community who was diagnosed with leukemia, Kristin was always looking to help others, said her mother Pam Oliver.

When Kristin was diagnosed with a rare cancer of the heart, cardiac sarcoma at the age of 29, Oliver said that she assured her daughter during her fight against that disease that “your life is going to make a difference.”

Kristin died two years after her diagnosis in June 2020 at the age of 31.

On April 26, the Oliver family will continue to honor the promise to Kristin that her life would make a difference by holding a blood drive that they established in Kristin’s honor in 2021.

“This is something Kristin would do,” Pam Oliver said. “She can still save someone’s life. She is our little light that continues to shine on in our hearts.”

Now in its 5th year, the Kristin Arielle Oliver Memorial Blood Drive with Versiti Blood Centers, The Center for Food Equity in Medicine, NBC Chicago and the Olympia Fields Park District is focusing on “Matters of the Heart,” Oliver said. Other partners who will participate in the blood drive include The Gift of Hope Organ and Tissue Network, Franciscan Hospital, The National Kidney Foundation, Equal Hope Advocacy for cervical and breast cancer screenings and Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Illinois. The newest parters include the Sickle Cell Disease Association of Illinois and Top Ladies Of Distinction’s South Suburban Chapter.

Kristin’s experience with cancer opened Oliver’s her eyes to the fact that blood donations are needed not only during major disasters, but are also essential for surgeries, cancer treatments, chronic illnesses and traumatic injuries. Someone needs blood every two seconds, according to Versiti Blood Centers.

“There’s a need, and a lot of people don’t understand that,” Oliver said. “It’s always needed. You just never know when your need might come. There is a demand, and not just when there is a shortage.”
Oliver also learned how important blood donations from people of color can be for her community. While “blood is blood” in a pinch, Oliver said she found out patients experience the best outcomes when they receive donations from people of similar ethnic backgrounds. All of that led to the idea for blood drive.

“We need a diverse supply,” Oliver said. “We just want to help our community and encourage people of color to be part of the process on a regular basis.”

For individuals living with Sickle Cell Disease, blood donations are not just helpful—they are essential., according to the Sickle Cell Disease Association of Illinois (SCDAI), who are joining the blood drive this year. Regular transfusions can ease pain, prevent serious complications, and offer a renewed chance at life. But finding closely matched blood—especially from minority donors—is crucial and too often in short supply.

Sickle Cell Awareness is one of the national initiatives of Top Ladies of Distinction, Inc. The National President and CEO, Eddie Lee Marsh, has prioritized Sickle Cell for the organization’s chapters, said Maria Brunson, president of the South Suburban Chicago Chapter of Top Ladies of Distinction, Inc.

The Sickle Cell Disease Awareness initiative resonates with me personally, as a childhood friend of mine had the disease. At that time, I did not fully understand it, primarily because there was a lack of education about the disease among African American children.

In addition to collecting blood donations, the family is also asking people to bring a grocery store gift card or monetary donation to help The Center for Food Equity in Medicine address food insecurity for those living with chronic conditions such as cancer. Kristin is a posthumous member of the organization’s board of directors. The Center, which is based in Flossmoor, provides food for people facing health challenges in the Chicago area.

“Through our efforts, we are striving to build healthier, more informed, health conscious communities,” Oliver said. “We can all make a difference.”

The blood drive will take place from 10:30 a.m. to 2:45 p.m., Saturday, April 26 at Sgt. Means Park, 20712 Western Ave., in Olympia Fields. Donors are encouraged to schedule appointments in advance by calling 1-800-7TO-GIVE.