The countdown has begun for the 2026 Great Chicago Blood Drive, with just 56 days remaining until the event commences.

Participating in this life-saving initiative is as simple as offering your arm for a blood donation.

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As per the guidelines set by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, donors are eligible to give blood every two months.

Blood donations play a critical role in the lives of many, including young girls like Madelyn Marino.

Madelyn faced a leukemia diagnosis at the tender age of 23 months, highlighting the importance of generous blood donors.

Her mother says her recovery wouldn’t have been as successful without blood transfusions.

“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