By Jeb Sharp

This Friday, residents of Troy and Brundidge will have the opportunity to save a life. The First National Bank of Brundidge will be holding a blood drive to raise awareness for childhood cancer.

September is national Childhood Cancer Awareness Month, and many businesses and charities across the country will be holding similar events to raise awareness for the disease.

According to the American Childhood Cancer Association, more than 13,000 children under the age of 21 are diagnosed with cancer every year, and a quarter of those diagnosed will die from the disease.

Childhood cancer is an issue that hits close to home for the local Brundidge community. First National Bank employee and event coordinator Ryann May lost her daughter, Hadley, seven years ago to Rhabdomyosarcoma, a type of muscle cancer.

The event is being held in memory of Hadley, and all blood donations will be marked “In honor of Hadley” as a way of both honoring and memorializing her short life.

May invites everyone to come out and support the cause.

“We encourage everyone who can donate to come out and donate. As more people become aware about childhood cancer, more funding can be raised, which leads to improved treatment options,” May said.

“Donating blood can save up to three lives,” she added. “This is the first time we have done the blood drive, but we hope to have more in the years to come.”

The blood drive will be running from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., and both the Brundidge and the Troy branches will be participating in the event. Donations will be made through the Life South Community Blood Centers.

First National Bank of Brundidge is located at 137 South Main St. in Brundidge and at 615 Park St. in Troy.