A Peachtree City Boy Scout is organizing a blood drive with the American

Red Cross Wednesday, July 21, from 1-6 p.m. at Holy Trinity Catholic Church.

Brett Bartels, a member of Troop 175, noted that the blood supply is critically

low during the summer months. Red Cross officials attribute the shortage

to vacationing donors and the lack of blood drives in high schools and

colleges, which provide roughly 20 percent of Georgia's blood supply

during the school year.

Bartels, a rising junior at Our Lady of Mercy High School, said participants

in the blood drive can also have their blood tested so they can be placed

on the national bone marrow registry.

Unlike blood donation, which is free, the bone marrow tests cost $75 for

Caucasians, Bartels said. The tests are free for minorities thanks to a

federal grant due to the shortage of minority donors, he noted.

"When more donors are placed on this list, patients with leukemia

or other diseases in desperate need of bone marrow transplants increase

their chance of finding a donor," Bartels said.

Bartels, 16, is seeking funds to defray the costs of those who choose

to have their blood tested for the bone marrow transplant registry.

"Minority bone marrow donors are especially in need, as only 58 percent

of minority patients in need of a bone marrow transplant are able to find

a perfect match on the marrow registry," Bartels said.

The bone marrow blood test will also be performed by the American Red

Cross, Bartels said. Bartels said he got the idea to add the bone marrow

testing to the drive from his mother, who is already a donor on the national

bone marrow registry.

The blood and bone marrow donation drive is serving as Bartels' Eagle

Scout Leadership Service Project.

Donors are encouraged to call or e-mail Bartels to schedule an appointment,

which should keep the donation process down to about an hour, said the

16-year-old. Walk-ins will also be accepted, Bartels added.

Bartels may be reached at 770-631-9794 or by e-mail at [email protected] .