Birthday Blood Drive Features Gift of Life

For Lauren Worley’s birthday this year, she isn’t asking for presents or cake. Rather, she’s asking people to celebrate by giving the gift of life.

Worley is hosting a blood drive with Hoxworth Blood Center Wednesday, July 23, and hopes to get 30 people to donate blood in honor of her 30th birthday.

"I’ve been donating regularly since I was around 18,” she explains. "Donating blood is such a simple thing to do. I guess my thought is: If you can make a difference, why wouldn’t you?”

While Worley has been donating on a regular basis for several years, she was surprised to learn about how many people have never donated blood. 

"Recently, I started to realize how many people out there have never donated before,” she says. "So my main goal with this drive is to spread awareness and recruit more first-time donors. Once someone has donated blood, I feel like they’re more likely to keep donating.”

Worley also adds that blood donation has had an impact on her life, as many of her family members have received transfusions in the past. In fact, her mother’s last transfusion was a year ago, and she will be donating blood for Worley’s birthday this year. But she invites anybody who is interested to celebrate her birthday by donating at her drive.

"The more the merrier!” she says. "We have about 15 people registered, and some people who have verbally committed, but anyone who wants to show up and donate is totally welcome.”

Worley’s birthday blood drive will take place from 2 to 8 p.m. July 23 at the Rhinehaus bar in Over-the-Rhine—just look for the Hoxworth Bloodmobile—and if you stop by, make sure you wish her a very happy birthday!