The American Red Cross urges eligible donors of all races and ethnicities to give blood to help ensure a diverse blood supply for patients in need.

Some blood types are unique to certain racial and ethnic groups, so a diverse blood supply is important to meeting the medical needs of an increasingly diverse patient population.

Patients who need repeated transfusions, like 11-year-old Tymia McCullough who has sickle cell disease, must have blood that is matched very closely. Patients are less likely to have complications from blood donated by someone with a similar ethnicity.

Donors of all racial and ethnic backgrounds, as well as all blood types, are needed to help patients fight sickle cell disease, alpha thalassemia and other illnesses. Make an appointment to give blood by downloading the free Red Cross Blood Donor App, visiting redcrossblood.org or calling 1-800-RED CROSS (1-800-733-2767). To help reduce wait times, donors are encouraged to make appointments and complete the RapidPass online health history questionnaire at redcrossblood.org/RapidPass.

Upcoming blood donation opportunities Oct. 1-15

Murfreesboro Blood Donation Center, 501 Memorial Blvd. Murfreesboro, TN. 37129

• 10/1/2017: 8 a.m. - 3 p.m.
• 10/2/2017: 12:30 p.m. - 7:30 p.m.
• 10/5/2017: 10 a.m. - 5 p.m.
• 10/6/2017: 8 a.m. - 3 p.m.
• 10/7/2017: 8 a.m. - 3 p.m.
• 10/8/2017: 8 a.m. - 3 p.m.
• 10/9/2017: 12:30 p.m. - 7:30 p.m.
• 10/12/2017: 10 a.m. - 5 p.m.
• 10/13/2017: 8 a.m. - 3 p.m.
• 10/14/2017: 8 a.m. - 3 p.m.
• 10/15/2017: 8 a.m. - 3 p.m.

Tennessee Army National Guard, Building 250, 8th Ave. S. Smyrna, TN. 37167

• 10/2/2017: 9 a.m. - 1:30 p.m.