Friends of Dougie Abarca, a senior at Half Moon Bay High School who has complete kidney failure and is receiving dialysis three times a week through Lucile Packard at Stanford, are hosting what they are calling a "Dougie Drive," a blood drive in his honor to support his fight and raise awareness about how important it is to donate blood.
The event is at Half Moon Bay High School tomorrow, Monday, Jan. 28, from noon to 3 p.m. for students only. The blood drive will then be open from 3 to 6 p.m. to the entire community.
Abarca started getting sick at the end of the school year last year. By the end of the summer, he had zero kidney function, said Colleen Granahan, who is hosting the event. It was her daughter Kaila Clark's idea to do the Dougie Drive while Abarca is waiting to get a new kidney. Adrian De Leon, also a Half Moon Bay High School senior, is in charge of the blood drive at the school as well.
Anyone interested in helping to ease the financial burden of the family is asked to bring gas, Safeway or New Leaf gift cards with them. Also the organizers will have Dougie Drive 2013 wrist bands available at the drive while they last! $3 each or 2 for $5. If you are not attending/donating blood and would like to give a financial donation you can do so by sending it to or dropping off at 535 Main Street, Half Moon Bay, CA 94019 to Colleen Granahan.
"Dougie is one of the top patients on the transplant list," said Granahan. "Dougie is really a goofy, fun, energetic teen."
To make appointment to give blood tomorrow and help Dougie Abarca, call Granahan at 650-315-8584.
