MO HCR32

Designates May 15, 2014, as "American Red Cross Minority Blood Drive Day" in Missouri to honor Dr. Charles Richard Drew, an African-American physician and blood transfusion pioneer.

Acknowledges that over 90,000 people in the United States are affected by sickle cell disease, with 98% being African-American, and that blood transfusions are often necessary to prevent life-threatening complications.

Notes that African-American patients requiring bone marrow transplants face difficulty finding unrelated donors due to underrepresentation in the donor pool and variations in HLA-types among people with African ancestry.

Recognizes the American Red Cross's efforts to partner with African-American and Hispanic-American communities to increase minority blood donations through health fairs, education, and addressing cultural barriers.

Encourages Missouri citizens to participate in activities on the designated day to honor Dr. Drew's medical contributions, including his pioneering work in blood plasma storage and establishing the first blood bank drive.