Press release:
The entire community is invited to join the family and friends of Buddy Oderkirk to help save lives by donating blood through the American Red Cross on August 19, 2021, from 11:00 a.m.- 5:00 p.m. at The American Legion 53 West Main Street Le Roy, NY 14482 in his memory.
A 2014 graduate of Pavilion High School where he graduated 4th from his class, Buddy was a member of National Honor Society. He loved traveling and following his high school graduation he took an eleven day European vacation where he fell in love with the country of Switzerland. An accomplished wrestler throughout high school, Buddy began wrestling at the age of 6. He served as a mentor to many younger wrestlers and volunteered much of his time to ensure their success. He was a student at Genesee Community College with the aspirations to transfer to Monroe Community College to pursue a career as a dental hygienist. A member of Genesee County 4-H and the NIOGA Holstein Club. He enjoyed trading sports cards, playing fantasy football, and loved listening to music.
Through out all of his treatment he never once complained and was always the epitome of grace, hope and most of all kindness.
To know Buddy was to understand what it meant to be the bigger person and to always remain true to
who you are regardless of the circumstances. Buddy was diagnosed with 4th stage Alveolar Rhabdomyosarcoma in May 2015 just before his 18th birthday he was determined to beat it and went into a 54 week treatment plan with a tenacity that left many in admiration. Buddy, unfortunately, lost his battle on November 15, 2016. As his Mom I am so proud of the young man he was and I always say the he made me a better person. This blood drive is to honor the strength and memory of a truly amazing young man who touched so many lives in his short lifetime.
According to the Red Cross, someone in the U.S. needs blood every two seconds to respond to patient emergencies, including accident and burn victims, heart surgery and organ transplant patients, and those receiving treatment for leukemia, cancer or sickle cell disease. All blood types are needed.
Download the American Red Cross Blood Donor App, visit redcrossblood.org or call 1-800-RED CROSS (1-800-733-2767) to make an appointment or for more information.
A blood donor card or driver’s license or two other forms of identification are required at check-in. Individuals who are 17 years of age (16 with parental consent in some states), weigh at least 110 pounds and are in generally good health may be eligible to donate blood. High school students and other donors 18 years of age and younger also have to meet certain height and weight requirements.
