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On Sunday August 11, a special blood drive was hosted at The Heights Community Center in Richmond Heights Missouri. The blood drive was organized by the Golden Cord Foundation, an organization founded by Jessica Stegen in honour of her late husband Jon who succumbed to an aggressive form of Appendiceal Cancer last year.
Jessica saw Golden Cord as an organization that could help many families with members in need of blood transfusions. During Jon’s rounds of chemotherapy, Jessica watched as strength returned to his body as a result of a blood transfusion, which provided him with the energy necessary to attend his son’s Halloween party. Although Jon passed away not long after the party, Jessica knew an idea was born.
The goal of Golden Cord is to be a sound voice that encourages families to stay strong during difficult times. The organization works to increase knowledge and awareness on the importance of blood transfusions, and provides a social media support system that helps families turn to others who understand the importance of blood transfusions.
Jessica also turned Golden Cord into a successful fundraising organization. The money is used to host blood donor drives, but also to help provide more oncology counselling services, resources, and trained staff at hospitals or cancer centres.
Jessica hosted the Jon C Stegen Memorial Blood Drive, where the goal was for at least 186 people to donate blood. Golden Cord says each donated pint of blood can help as many as three patients or as many as 575 people in need of blood transfusions.