Karly Rathbun and Shayla Schielein bond over three things: sloths, rainbows and fighting cancer. The two are now both in remission after their own battles with leukemia, each of them rung the bell this year and put on their second annual blood drive on Saturday, Sept. 5.
Through those three years of fighting, they experienced long wait times for blood transfusions at the hospital.
"It will take forever," Karly said. "One time we had to stay there for three hours just to wait for blood … We don't want that for other people."
Last year, they decided to do something about it and organized their first blood drive with their mothers. Their first blood drive received 61 units of blood. This year's goal is 62 and continuing to help other children who are still fighting.
"It's one way to give back to all of our supporters too because you don't know who's going to be affected next," Shayla's mother Mallory Schielein said.
"Even though our girls are done we're still St. Jude moms," Karly's mother April said. "We're still here for everybody."
This year's event took place from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. in the Holiday Inn and Suites in East Peoria. It comes in the midst of the ongoing pandemic which poses a challenge for those who want to donate blood.
"Obviously we've gone through a lot of changes, but that doesn't mean that the need for blood has just gone away," American Red Cross account manager Caleb Liggin said. "People still need blood. There are patients like Karly and Shayla that need blood."
The tough times bonded both the girls and their mothers to take on a problem. Now the girls want to spread a message of hope to children who are still fighting.
"It's really hard at first, but once you're done you feel amazing," Karly said.
"It's going to better someday I promise," Shayla said. "It's going to better because I know through the hard times it was going to get better and look at me now. It's all better."
The duo says they're still looking forward to hosting blood drives as they get older. If you're looking to donate blood, you can go to redcrossblood.org to make an appointment at your local blood donation center or find an upcoming blood drive.
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September 06, 2020 at 06:49AM
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After beating cancer, two girls want to beat long wait times for blood - HOI ABC
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