Memorial blood drive planned

Family, friends and community members will gather on Tuesday at the Phil Campbell High School gymnasium to donate blood in memory of a county resident who meant a lot to many people – Kevin Charles Swinney.

Swinney, who passed away on Jan. 12, 2010, after battling an acute form of leukemia for four months, was an active member of the community and helped out wherever he could.

In addition to leukemia, Kevin also suffered from a rare genetic skin disease called Xeroderma Pigmentosum (XP), which causes a defect in the body’s mechanisms that are used to repair DNA mutations caused by ultraviolet rays.

“Kevin actually passed away from the leukemia, but his XP sped the process up,” Kevin’s father, Charles Swinney, said.

For the leukemia, Kevin had to receive treatments at the Northwest Alabama Cancer Center and he had to receive blood several times per week at Eliza Coffee Memorial Hospital.

Because of this, Kevin was actually the one who organized the first blood drive several months before his passing, and his family felt it would be appropriate to carry out his wishes and make the blood drive an annual event.

“Before Kevin died, he had to receive blood every other day,” Charles said. “That blood was the only thing that kept him alive from September through January, so we know the importance of being a blood donor.”

Kevin’s mother, Elise Swinney, said her son set up the blood drive at the high school because he wanted to give back to the hospital in appreciation for all the blood he had received.

“That was just the kind of person he was – always wanting to help,” Elise said.

The first blood drive went on as planned in February of 2010, and Charles said the event was a success.

“We collected over 90 units of blood that day, and the LifeSouth organizer told me he was only expecting around 40,” Charles said. “It was a great way to honor Kevin’s memory.”

The family has decided to make this blood drive an annual event and they hope all of Kevin’s friends, family and the community will come out to donate blood in his memory.

The blood drive will be Tuesday, Feb. 22, from 7:30 a.m. until 3:30 p.m. at the Phil Campbell High School gymnasium.

All donors must be 17 years old or older or 16 with a parent’s written consent. Donors must also weigh more than 110 pounds and be able to show identification.

All LifeSouth donors will receive a free appetizer courtesy of Texas Roadhouse and a free cholesterol screening.