On Tuesday, May 30, Blood Assurance will hold a blood drive at Toyo Tires North America Manufacturing, Inc. in honor of Garrett Jordan, long time Toyo Tire employee Michael Roberson’s son. Garrett was diagnosed with Lymphoblastic Lymphoma earlier this year. Garrett’s parents, Michael and Sarah Roberson, credit pediatric cardiologist Dr. Henaro Sabino for saving Garrett’s life when they rushed him to the emergency room at Floyd Medical Center on January 24. A large mass was discovered just two days later. Although this blood drive is not open to the public, community members are invited to show their support for Garrett and help replenish the universal blood supply by making a donation in his honor at Blood Assurance’s Cartersville donor center, located at 921 B Joe Frank Harris Parkway SE across from the Cartersville Medical Center.

Michael Roberson, Garrett’s father, has worked at Toyo Tires for eleven years. “At Toyo Tires we always want to do what we can to support our employees and their families,” said Carmen Jones, Human Resource Manager at Toyo Tires. “Partnerships like this one between Toyo Tires and Blood Assurance are the lifeline for local area patients like Garrett.”

Blood Assurance believes in the power of “honor drives” for a patient who required blood donations due to a trauma situation or ongoing illness. The host may choose to invite relatives, friends, coworkers and community members who would be willing to make a blood donation in support of the patient. The blood drive may be held at any Blood Assurance donor center or on the organization’s bloodmobile at a location agreed upon by the host and location owner.

More information about Garrett Jordan and the honor drive can be found on the Facebook page dedicated to his cancer journey. Garrett has three additional siblings: Caitlin Roberson, 15, Brylynn Johnson, 8, and Ricky Johnson, 7. To schedule an appointment to donate in Garret’s honor please visit BloodAssurance.org, call 800-962-2628 or text BAGIVE to 444999.

To be eligible to donate blood, you must be at least 18 years old (17 and 16 years old with parental consent), weigh 110 pounds or more and be in good health. Donors are asked to drink plenty of fluids – avoiding caffeine – and eat a meal that is rich in iron prior to donating. For more information on Blood Assurance, donating blood or hosting a blood drive, please visit www.bloodassurance.org.