Blood drives near me: Pints ​​for Kim’s blood drive at Naperville North High School set a state record, organizers said

NAPERVILLE, Ill. (WLS) — A record-breaking number of people rolled up their sleeves to donate blood at Naperville High School on Saturday.

More than 600 pints of blood were collected for the fourth annual “A Pint for Kim” blood drive.

The blood donor is named in honor of Kimberley Benedyk Sandford. It started in 2020, when Kim, a wife and mother of two boys, was battling a cancer so rare that it accounts for only one in 10 million.

At times, he required dozens of blood and plasma transfusions, which inspired his family to start #APintForKim.

Kim was involved in creating the effort, and it is her wish to continue it. Hundreds continue to come out every year.

ABC7 spoke with her husband, who was the first blood donor Saturday morning.

“It's really amazing when you think about it. These are people helping people, and it really touched us. Kim really felt like, ‘Wow, I really want to give this back.' And, he told his doctor one time, kind of jokingly, he said, “We're going to give this back 10 times over.” But, he was wrong, because it was more than 100 times over.”

This year, A Pint for Kim took place at Naperville North High School, where Kim's son now attends. According to organizers, all beds were filled, all day long for what is considered the largest single location blood drive in Illinois.

At least 100 more pints collected this year. Organizers say that's the equivalent of 75 donors per hour.

You can find more information about the event Here.