Ellwood City Blood Drive Honors Memory of Shooting Victim

ELLWOOD CITY – It’s been six years since Richard Hogue was shot and killed, and his family continues to turn their pain into saving lives by hosting a blood drive in his memory. They host the blood drive every year near the anniversary of his death, and again this year the event will be on the actual date, November 16, from 12 p.m. to 6 p.m. at the Holy Redeemer Catholic Church Administrative Center, 300 Crescent Ave., Ellwood City, PA 16117. Donors are asked to park in the rear parking lot of the center.

Hogue was a hardworking, blue-collar man who lived to love and help others, a true man with a heart of gold, says his mother, Debbie Murdock. “He was always first to help family, friends and neighbors in need and talk to anyone in troubled places and guide them to a better judgment,” she said. “Above all, spending time with his family was most important to him. He left behind a son, now 12, who adored him, a mother left empty and distraught, two heartbroken sisters he loved dearly, and two nieces.

“We know we can never bring Richard back but we have chosen to take our pain and turn it into supporting life with a blood drive so that a priceless gift can be given to other families in his honor: the gift of time. Whether the blood donations are used to save a life, to prolong a life, or to improve the quality of life, it helps keep Richard’s memory alive.”

The blood drive is being conducted by Vitalant (formerly Central Blood Bank). Vitalant one of the nation’s oldest and largest nonprofit community blood service providers. Vitalant supplies comprehensive transfusion medicine services to nearly 1,000 hospitals and health care partners for patients in need across 40 states, including 50 health care facilities in western Pennsylvania and parts of West Virginia and Ohio.

To schedule an appointment, donors can visit the website vitalant.org and click on the donate button; call 877-25 VITAL (84825); or download the Vitalant-Pittsburgh smartphone mobile app. Use group code Z0020906 to register for this drive. Walk-ins also welcome. Participating donors at the drive will receive a stainless steel water bottle as a thank-you gift.

PRESS RELEASE
Contact: Kristen Lane
O  412.209.7029
C  412.506.2260
vitalant.org