Blood drive to honor cancer-stricken Savannah native, rock band drummer

Feb. 23– Jeff Letson loves fishing, hunting, music and playing golf. This 45-year-old husband and father of four is a marketing firm sales representative and the drummer for Backwater, a classic rock band.

"I can’t play my drums right now because it zaps my energy. I miss it," says Letson.

He just completed six months of chemotherapy for lymphoma and acute lymphocytic leukemia, but it isn’t a new battle.

Four years ago, Letson was diagnosed with the same disease. He underwent chemotherapy, went into remission and was diagnosed again last September.

"There’s a very small group of people that presented the way I did. Ninety-five percent of the people in my group relapse within three years. I expect my next relapse to come even sooner," he said.

Letson received a couple units of blood during his battle with lymphoma and another two units, so far, to treat his leukemia. He is undergoing a bone marrow transplant this summer.

"I’ve always been a firm believer in donating blood. My children donate blood. I donated for several years before getting cancer," says Letson.

You can help leukemia and lymphoma patients like Jeff Letson by donating blood on Tuesday, March 9, from 12:30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. at Savannah Church of Christ at 1175 Pickwick Road in Savannah.

The American Red Cross is partnering with the National Marrow Donor Program to offer all presenting blood donors the opportunity to be added to the National Marrow Registry.

Anyone between 18 and 60 is eligible for bone marrow testing. You can be tested even if you recently donated blood.

"Having it done in my honor, is a very flattering experience and hopefully in them doing this, it will promote more people to donate blood," Letson said.

"My goal is to increase awareness that blood is not just needed in surgeries and major accidents. Cancer patients require a large percentage of blood units. I will also be at the drive to increase the bone marrow registry. Donating marrow is nothing like it used to be. Now it’s more like donating platelets or double reds...just a peripheral blood donation in most cases. Come see me and I’ll explain," he said.

Donors can now also schedule blood donation appointments online at www.redcrossblood.org, or by calling 1-800-RED CROSS.