CHICAGO — The countdown to the 2026 Great Chicago Blood Drive has begun, with just 56 days remaining until the event kicks off.

This is your opportunity to be a hero by simply extending your arm and donating blood.

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According to the guidelines set by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, individuals are eligible to donate blood once every eight weeks.

Blood donations are crucial for many, including young children like Madelyn Marino.

Madelyn was diagnosed with leukemia at the tender age of 23 months.

Her mother attributes much of Madelyn’s recovery to the life-saving blood transfusions she received.

“She had to have one day one. So like when she was diagnosed, we stayed in the hospital for seven days and started treatment. And they want to make sure treatment is everything is going well, and it’s working. So you stay there for a little while and yeah, she had everyone. She had to have one right away because her blood, was everything was very low. She’s very tired, and she needed it in order to get through the first couple of treatments,” Kathleen Marino said.

Marino is now 5 and cancer-free.

So, if you’d like to help children like her, mark your calendars for Jan. 14 and 15 for the Great Chicago Blood Drive.

ABC7 Chicago is teaming up with the American Red Cross to provide six convenient donation locations across the two days.

Schedule your appointment today here or call 1-800-RED-CROSS.

Day 1

7 a.m. – 7p.m.

Highland Parks and Recreation
2450 Lincoln St., Highland, Indiana 46322