One area mother is urging residents to come out and donate blood to help save lives after her own daughter’s life was saved through blood donations.

The 2016 Media Blood Drive is being held at the East Hills Shopping Center by the Community Blood Center. The drive will be held today until 7 p.m.

Beth Taylor said in a news release that she is asking people to come out because without lifesaving blood her daughter Harlee who was diagnosed with Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia at the age of six would not have been able to receive the blood transfusions she needed.

“Harlee remained in remission for three and a half years.  April 23, 2013 at the age of 10, we learned her cancer was back,” Taylor said. “She was diagnosed with relapsed ALL and began another two year and four month course of chemotherapy.  This round would prove to be much more difficult and required many more blood product transfusions than the first.”

Harlee spent an entire month the Children’s Mercy Hospital in the summer of 2013.  Taylor said this year (2016), Harlee will complete her course of treatment and have her last dose of chemotherapy.

“As a family, we are so grateful to her medical team and to all of the anonymous blood donors who helped Harlee with their donations of life,” Taylor said. “Please give blood at the 2016 Media Day Blood Drive.”

The Community Blood Center said the goal is to raise 175 blood donations.