Elementary School Students Organize Blood Drive in Memory of Former Classmate Sean DePatto

Thiells and Willow Grove Elementary Schools, in conjunction with New York Blood Center (NYBC), will host a blood drive in memory of Sean DePatto, the Garnerville 9-year-old who lost his battle with leukemia last February. The blood drive will be held on Tuesday, January 29, 2013 at Thiells Elementary School from 4 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. in the Multi-Purpose Room.

Sean was in the fourth grade at Thiells Elementary at the time of his passing. His friends are now in the fifth grade at Willow Grove. For several years, while Sean was in and out of treatment, Thiells Elementary School hosted an annual blood drive each January in honor of Sean.

These blood drives helped to replenish the community blood supply from which Sean received the blood he needed to support him through his cancer treatments. Students at both Thiells and Willow Grove are dedicated to continuing this legacy to help save lives in Sean’s memory.  Both third grade and fifth grade students will assist in this effort as part of New York Blood Center’s Little Doctors Program in memory of a schoolmate and friend whom the students describe as having been “brave, kind, funny, and friendly.”

Anyone interested in making an appointment to donate at this blood drive, may call Peg Varieur, RN, school nurse at Thiells Elementary at 845-942-3164 or Jen Cunnane, fifth grade teacher at Willow Grove Elementary at 845-942-8000, ext. 5331.

To donate blood or for information on how to organize a blood drive, please call Toll Free: 1-800-933-2566

Visit: www.nybloodcenter.org

If you cannot donate but still wish to participate in bringing crucial blood products to patients in need, please ask someone to donate for you, or consider volunteering at a local blood drive.  For more information about New York Blood Center’s Award winning Little Doctors Program, please contact Andrea Cefarelli, Executive Director of Donor Recruitment at 914-784-4639.

(PRESS RELEASE)