The nonprofit Vitalant is urging all people who are eligible to give blood to show support for breast cancer patients and survivors by donating in October, Breast Cancer Awareness Month.

More than 25% of the blood supply goes to aid cancer patients such as Loucinda Davis, who has been cancer-free for eight years but recounts how critical blood and platelet donations were while battling breast cancer.

“In order to receive chemo, your platelets have to be above 100,000, and mine were 9,000,” Davis said. “I headed to the emergency room for a platelet transfusion, only to have to wait for platelets to be driven to the hospital from two hours away. I could have died without platelets. Every year that goes by is one more year to be thankful to be alive.”

A single blood donation can help more than one patient. It’s the blood already donated and ready to help that makes all the difference when a patient is in need, according to Vitalant.

Visit Vitalant’s website for information on blood drives in your area.