MO HCR21

Designates December 15, 2012, as "American Red Cross Minority Blood Drive Day" in Missouri to honor Dr. Charles Richard Drew, an African-American physician and blood transfusion research pioneer.

Acknowledges that over 80,000 Americans with sickle cell disease (98% African-American) require blood transfusions to prevent life-threatening complications including stroke and acute chest syndrome.

Notes that African-American patients needing bone marrow transplants face difficulty finding unrelated donors due to underrepresentation in donor registries and greater HLA-type variation among people of African ancestry.

Recognizes the American Red Cross's efforts to partner with African-American and Hispanic-American communities to increase minority blood donations and address cultural barriers to participation.

Encourages Missouri citizens to participate in activities honoring Dr. Drew's contributions to medicine, including his establishment of the first blood bank and blood plasma storage innovations.