DAYTON, Ohio — During Breast Cancer Awareness Month, your blood could be what helps people battling the disease. 

What You Need To Know

  • Organizers at Dayton's Community Blood Center say more blood donations go to help patients with cancer than any other disease 

  • Organizers are looking for more donors with AB blood type to give blood, plasma, and platelets to cancer patients 

  • Some donors have been back dozens of times to try and help 

Julie Feldman has been in the donation chair 71 times.

“I give platelets every two weeks,” said Feldman.

Each time she's giving more blood to hospital patients, but this time, she came dressed in pink in hopes her donation reaches someone with breast cancer.

“Shortly after I give I get that little phone call saying your blood has been sent to some hospital to help somebody,” said Feldman.

At the Community Blood Center in Dayton where she’s donating, organizers say they need more donors like her to help cancer patients. 

“Most people don’t realize how much blood goes to cancer patients. Up to a quarter of all blood donations go to people fighting cancer,” said Mark Pompilio, the center's spokesperson.

Pompilio said they use blood to send to hospitals for transfusions and treatments that help patients survive.

He said they need more donors with a certain blood type to give platelets and plasma. 

“Someone who is an AB will probably be asked to give platelets or plasma because they are so ideal for it. That’s a pretty small part of the population, it’s fractional, and then there’s very few people that are really up to the task of giving platelets and plasma,” said Pompilio. 

Feldman is one of those donors giving platelets.

She said there’s one reason that keeps her coming back to that chair. 

“Just an overall satisfaction that I can help somebody,” said Feldman. 

For more information about how you can donate, click here.

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