Callaway County's biggest blood drive is coming soon.
Super Sam Foundation and the American Red Cross' annual blood drive is set for noon-6 p.m. July 24 at First Christian Church of Fulton (6 E. 7th St.). All who attempt to donate will receive a Super Sam T-shirt or Red Cross St. Louis Cardinals "Time to Fly" T-shirt while supplies last.
Giving blood is one of the easiest ways to help "all the kids" fighting childhood cancer, as the foundation's slogan goes.
Sam Santhuff was 5 years old when he was diagnosed with rhabdomyosarcoma, a rare form of cancer. His treatment included numerous surgeries, chemotherapy, blood transfusions and radiation treatments. In addition, Sam had to live apart from his family for a month to receive specialized radiation, later spending 100 days in isolation for a bone marrow transplant.
Ultimately, the extraordinary care Sam received was not enough to defeat the disease; he died Sept. 19, 2014.
"Six years ago, I was driving Sam to St. Louis to receive much needed blood and platelets," his mother, Cassie Santhuff said in a recent Facebook post. "On our way to St. Louis Children's Hospital, Sam and I talked about how important the blood is for him and other kids like him."
Sam needed blood frequently, receiving at least 140 transfusions over the course of his treatment. Blood of Sam's type sometimes had to be couriered from Kansas City to Columbia.
"On each trip we made for blood and platelets, we thanked God together for the selfless donors who gave him life again," Santhuff said. "It may sound extreme to say 'gave life,' but it's true. Sam would perk up, his color would return, his smile would brighten, and he would want to play again."
Santhuff has often spoken of Sam's empathy for other children fighting childhood cancer. At his urging, Santhuff went on to co-found the Super Sam Foundation. Today, SSF raises funds for research, supports the siblings of children with cancer through comfort packs and, of course, organizes the SSF Memorial Blood Drive.
"The Super Sam Memorial Blood Drive is the most precious event we have to me," Santhuff said. "Sam wanted this drive and insisted (his father) Matt and I leave his bone marrow transplant room to attend it, in hopes of helping others like him who needed blood."
Joe Zydlo, of the ARC, said the Red Cross currently faces an urgent need for blood. Blood products are flowing out to hospitals faster than donations are coming in.
Walk-ins are welcome but signing up in advance is encouraged. To make an appointment for the drive, download the Red Cross Blood Donor app, or visit redcrossblood.org and use sponsor code SUPERSAM or call 1-800-733-2767.