West Bend high schools host blood drive in honor of middle schooler battling leukemia

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WEST BEND, Wis. (CBS 58) -- Over 450 donors made their way to the West Bend High School gymnasium Wednesday to take part in the student council's blood drive, Crushin' It with Kiptyn.

The blood drive was held in honor of Kiptyn Kainz, a 12-year-old in the district currently battling a form of leukemia.

"When you get regular radiation, you need transfusions of blood," said Zach Borzick with Versiti Blood Center of Wisconsin. "(Kiptyn) gets transfusions of red blood cells whenever he has radiation."

The need for blood transfusions for people like Kiptyn is helped thanks to blood donations like the one hosted at West Bend East and West high schools. The student volunteers were grateful to be a part of it.

"It's just something where the whole community can come together," explained West Bend West sophomore Joaquin Ovalle. "It's kind of like a big family."

Four-hundred seventy-one donation appointments were scheduled, with walk-ins expected. Of those donations, Versiti officials say roughly 240 of them were high school students wanting to help young Kiptyn, whose parents, Craig and Denise, teach in the district.

"Knowing that it's going to somebody that we actually know just makes it more special," explained West Bend West senior Carter Phillips. "It's a good feeling when you know you really saved someone's life."

Every time someone donates blood, up to three lives can be saved. Borzick says the hope is that events like the one held in West Bend will encourage high school students to become donors for life.

"We're hoping we're building a culture where the people do donate blood. We can't manufacture; we need people to come out and donate, so starting from high school is a great way," Borzick explained. "You're donating when you're 17, when you're 17, when you're 18, that builds a history for you to donate when you're 40, when you're 50."

Those looking to donate blood can visit Versiti's website here.

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