From The Tribune staff reports
HOOVER — LifeSouth invites the community to join in honoring Hoover resident Mike Gilotti by saving lives when they host a blood drive in his memory on Friday, January 29. Donors can stop by one the LifeSouth bloodmobiles in the parking lot of the Hoover Recreation Center, located at 600 Municipal Drive between the hours of 9 a.m. and 6 p.m.
Mike, who served in the U.S. Army including 15 months as a tank commander in Iraq, was killed outside his Lake Cyrus home when he found someone breaking into his vehicle in January 2016. He was 33 with a wife and two children. Mike’s wife Heather, who now lives in south Alabama, will return to Hoover to attend the blood drive in his memory.
“All blood donations will stay in our community, helping patients in need in local hospitals,” Blake Lee, with LifeSouth said in a press release.
To maintain social distancing, all donors will be spaced apart while waiting and donating blood. Donor temperature will be checked at the door prior to entering the blood drive. All donors will receive a recognition item and a free COVID-19 antibody screening.
Blood donors must be at least 17 (16 with parental permission), weigh at least 110 pounds and be in good health. A photo ID is also required.
For more information on donating blood or to schedule an appointment to donate in honor of Mike Gilotti, call toll-free 888-795-2707 or visit lifesouth.org.