HOUTZDALE – The American Red Cross is holding a blood drive in memory of a local resident, the late Randall Britton, on Nov. 21. The blood drive will be held from 12 p.m. until 6 p.m. at the Christ the King Parish Center, 123 Good St., Houtzdale.
Organizers have set a collection goal of 100 blood donations.
Britton, a lifelong resident of Osceola Mills, died Dec. 10, 2011 following a six-year battle with leukemia. During his treatment, he received several blood transfusions and his friends and family would like to honor him with this blood drive in hope of helping others like him.
As part of the American Red Cross’ Thanksgiving holiday donor promotion, everyone who comes to the blood drive will receive a white, long-sleeved T-shirt while supplies last.
A 1975 graduate of Philipsburg-Osceola High School, Britton began working for the Pennsylvania Department of Corrections at the State Correctional Institution at Graterford in 1989. He then transferred to SCI-Houtzdale when it opened in 1996. He eventually was named superintendent of SCI-Houtzdale as well as the Quehanna Boot Camp. At the time of his death, Britton was a Deputy of Corrections for Pennsylvania.
He is survived by his wife of 30 years, Cindy (Nearhoof) Britton; his two children, Mallory Barnhart of Lock Haven and Joshua Britton of Conshohocken; and a brother, Ronald Britton of Osceola Mills.
Blood donated during the Nov. 21 blood drive will be used to support patients like Britton and others across the 100-county service area of the American Red Cross, Greater Alleghenies Blood Services Region.
To schedule an appointment for this blood drive or any other American Red Cross blood drive, call 1-800-RED CROSS (733-2767) or visit redcrossblood.org.
Most healthy individuals who are at least 17 years of age (16 with parental consent in Pennsylvania) and weigh a minimum of 110 pounds are eligible to donate blood.
Individuals 18 years of age or younger must also meet specific height and weight requirements.
The Greater Alleghenies Blood Services Region serves more than 80 hospitals and must have approximately 900 people donate blood or platelets each weekday to meet the needs of hospital patients.
Individuals may also follow the Red Cross on Twitter: www.twitter.com/redcrossGAR.
The Greater Alleghenies Region directly serves hospitals, patients and donors in a 100-county area in Kentucky, Maryland, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Virginia and West
Virginia, with more than five-dozen blood products and related services, and also supports blood needs experienced by patients elsewhere in hospitals served through Red Cross Blood Services.
