Blood and Platelet Drive for Lansdale Youth on Saturday

Family and friends of a Lansdale youth and a Penndale seventh-grader who is battling acute myeloid leukemia have organized a blood and platelet drive at Corpus Christi Church on Saturday, in conjunction with the American Red Cross and the National Marrow Donor Program.

Plugged as "Matthew Knoebel's Birthday Blood and Platelet Drive Bash," the public event takes place from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Saturday at the church at 900 Sumneytown Pike in Upper Gwynedd.

The American Red Cross and the National Bone Marrow Donor Program are teaming with Knoebel's family — mother Christina Simpson and her fiance Tom Coughlin, an employee at Souderton Area School District; uncle Mike Simpson of Lansdale; and aunts Mary Aderman of Lansdale and Kellie Roggio of Upper Gwynedd — to help meet the demand for blood and platelet donations. 

The event will also allow people to get tested for bone marrow matches.

Appointments are preferred for the drive, and can be made through Coughlin at tcoughlin@soudertonsd.org.

You can also sign up through the American Red Cross at this link. Use sponsor code 02216074.

Those who donate blood on Saturday can receive two vouchers for Monro Muffler/Brake & Service for a $19.99 Extra Mile Service package (oil and filter change, free 4-tire rotation, free wiper blades and free tire pressure check) and $60 off a set of four tires.

Those wishing to join the bone marrow registry must be between the ages of 18 and 44 and must be in good health. Those between the ages of 45 and 60 can join online at BeTheMatch.org.

The registry will be held Saturday at Corpus Christi, as well as Sunday, Jan. 13 from 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. at the church. 

Donations are accepted for the National Marrow Donation Program. Every $100 raised helps add another member to the registry.

A $10 donation can be made by texting MATCH 403 to 50555. Reply with "yes." 

To join, give or volunteer with Be The Match, contact Betty Kelly at bkelly@nmdp.org or call 877-601-1926, ext. 7722.  

Show your support and join "TEAM MATT" on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/groups/TEAMMATTHEW/

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