By Heather Bell
RADFORD – Professional Rehab Associates, Inc. is hosting an American Red Cross Blood Drive on Saturday, March 11 from 10 a.m. – 2 p.m.
“Celebrate life and make a difference by giving blood,” the announcement of the blood drive reads. “Blood is needed for many different kinds of patients. It could be a young child with a rare blood disorder, a family member fighting cancer, or a friend involved in a car accident. Please donate at this special blood drive. You’ll feel good knowing you’ve helped change the lives of patients in need.”
The blood drive is being held in memory of Mark Stewart, the late founder of Professional Rehab Associates in Radford.
“Mark Stewart won the battle against cancer in 2021 but passed due to the toll of a three-year-long battle against the effects of chemotherapy, radiation, and stem cell transplantation,” says the Professional Rehab Associates website. “During his care at Blue Ridge Cancer Center, Montgomery Regional Hospital, Roanoke Memorial, and Duke University Medical Center, Mark received countless units of blood, plasma, and platelets. He was always appreciative of the donors who gave. Before his passing, Mark urged his family to attempt to “pay back” all of the donations he had received.
“This year will be the Third Annual Blood Drive to honor Mark Stewart,”the website says. “Mark was a son, brother, cousin, husband, father, uncle, grandfather, and friend who cared greatly for those in his life. He was a teammate and friend on the Cal State Long Beach crew team, he was a coach for numerous youth sports teams supporting local children, he was a builder and he was a manager. Mark and his wife, Kathy, founded Professional Rehab Associates with the mission of improving the health and lives of those in their community.”
Each participant in the blood drive will receive a $10 Visa prepaid card by email and the chance to win a $3,000 Visa prepaid card to help with gas or grocery expenses.
Sign up for an appointment at https://www.redcrossblood.org/give.html/find-drive.