(This story was updated to accurately reflect the most current information.)
BROCKTON ― The Boxer Outreach Club at Brockton High School will be hosting a blood drive at the school Friday, April 4. The community is encouraged to support the students.
Boxer Outreach Club Advisor and Brockton High School English teacher Yvette Joyce said the main focus of the blood drive is spreading awareness for sickle cell disease, but the drive will also support scholarships for students.
“It is a key focus of the students, as many of them have friends and family fighting the disease,” Joyce said about sickle cell disease.
Zakia Cooper Boston, a Brockton mother who tragically lost her two sons in a car crash in Randolph in July 2023, shared on Facebook that her family is also impacted by sickle cell disease, encouraging people to participate in the high school blood drive.
“Sickle cell disease affects millions of people, including my own family. I’ve lost my cousin to this painful disease, and I currently have two little cousins living with it,” she said. “It’s a cause that’s close to my heart, and it’s so important that we all come together to make a difference.
“By donating, you’re not only saving lives, but you’re also supporting families like mine who are fighting this battle every day,” she said in her Facebook post. “Let’s show the strength of our community by coming together to help those in need. Every drop counts.”
Joyce said the blood drive will also help seniors get scholarships.
“The Red Cross offers scholarships based on the number of units collected. This is the third attempt by BHS students to reach the goal of collecting units to qualify,” Joyce said. “Rest assured, that these students have such big hearts, that they are working just as hard for sickle cell as they are for the scholarships.”
Here is what you need to know about the blood drive.
The blood drive will be held Friday, April 4 from 1 to 6 p.m. in the gymnasium at Brockton High School, located at 470 Forest Ave., door 21.
According to the blood drive poster, donors must have a photo ID and be at least 17 years old.
Book an appointment online. Scan the QRcode on Facebook or go to redcross.org/give-blood and use the sponsor code, BROCKTONHS. All donors will be entered into a raffle.
According to the U.S. Center for Disease Control and Prevention, “sickle cell disease (SCD) is a group of inherited blood disorders. Red blood cells contain hemoglobin, a protein that carries oxygen. Healthy red blood cells are round, and they move through small blood vessels to carry oxygen to all parts of the body. In someone who has SCD, the hemoglobin is abnormal, which causes the red blood cells to become hard and sticky and look like a C-shaped farm tool called a sickle. The sickle cells die early, which causes a constant shortage of red blood cells. Also, when they travel through small blood vessels, sickle cells get stuck and clog the blood flow. This can cause pain and other serious complications (health problems) such as infection, acute chest syndrome, and stroke.”
Editor’s note: A previous version of this story misstated where the crash took place in which the Boston brothers were killed. It was Randolph.
