Helmer Scientific, a leading manufacturer of laboratory equipment and refrigerated products for the life science industry, is partnering with Global Healing, a leading non-profit organization devoted to providing modern medical equipment, training, and supplies to the developing world, to present Powering the Engine of Global Blood Safety Collaboration at the AABB CTTXPO in Denver. The presentation will be held on Oct. 13, 2013, from 9:00 to 10:00am EST in the Helmer Booth #1329 on the exhibit hall floor.
The program will be presented by Ms. Lauren Larsen, leading blood donation advocate and author of Zuzu's Petals: A True Story of Second Chances. The presentation will highlight the global importance of donating blood and managing a safe and reliable blood supply. Drawing upon her experience as a recipient of more than 200 pints of blood, Lauren will discuss how she became motivated to global action. Following Ms. Larsen's presentation, Mr. Gavin Evans will introduce the newly developed "EqXchange" platform that is being launched at this year's CTTXPO by the charity Global Blood Fund. EqXchange is an online database that matches surplus equipment and supplies with in-need blood centers in the developing world., enabling otherwise redundant resources to continue to benefit donors and patients. EqXchange also allows rich-world organizations to offer advice and other forms of support to overseas collection agencies in need of technical assistance.
The program will showcase the ongoing efforts from the International Blood Safety Forum, co-hosted by Global Healing, America's Blood Centers and Helmer Scientific in March 2013. The International Blood Safety Forum brought together 65 international blood safety leaders to discuss global trends and needs in blood safety, as well as how to better collaborate. Through their long-time partnership with Global Healing, Helmer Scientific is supporting efforts to improve global collaboration through its Helmer Global Initiatives (HGI) program. The mission of HGI is to spread a culture of generosity by engaging individuals and organizations at their highest level of capability to provide aid and justice for poor and vulnerable people.
The presentation will take place during VIP hours on Sunday morning before the opening of the AABB exhibit floor and will require a VIP pass for entry. VIP passes will be available at the Helmer booth (1329) on Saturday night, October 12, at the CTTXPO opening event, or by contacting Helmer in advance. A drawing will be held for a limited number of Lauren Ward Larsen's book "Zuzu's Petals: A True Story of Second Chances."
About Helmer Scientific
Helmer Scientific is a manufacturer and global distributor of high-quality laboratory equipment and refrigerated products for the life science industry with a passion to serve its customers in their efforts to improve and save human lives. Helmer Global Initiatives (HGI) is a corporate effort of Helmer Scientific to spread a culture of generosity by engaging individuals and organizations at their highest level of capability to provide aid and justice for poor and vulnerable people. For more information please visit www.helmerinc.com.
About Global Healing
Global Healing is a US-registered 501(c)(3) non-profit organization devoted to providing modern medical equipment, supplies and training to the developing world. It was established in 1994, initially to train and equip a team of pediatric cardiology surgeons in Tbilisi, Georgia to perform the nation's first ever pediatric open-heart surgeries. Global Healing has since started medical programs in Armenia, Honduras, Dominica, Moldova, Nepal, Haiti and Ukraine. More information can be found at www.globalhealing.org.
About Global Blood Fund
Global Blood Fund (GBF) is a not-for-profit charity established in 2008 and run by practicing professionals working in blood donation management in the US and Europe. Through its "Open Arms" program, GBF partners with US blood centers and their donors; redirecting money traditionally spent on recognition items - t-shirts etc. - and instead using this to help poorly-resourced blood collection organizations in Africa, South America and elsewhere. . Given its impact and cost-effectiveness, GBF focuses particularly on enabling blood services in developing countries to nurture that most precious of resources – their blood donors. With the launch of its EqXchange portal, GBF gives the blood community its first global platform for re-homing used equipment and offering technical and other forms of support to those most in need. For more information, please visit: www.globalbloodfund.org.
About Lauren Larsen
Lauren Larsen is a writer, professional speaker, and international blood donation advocate. She also serves as the Chief Ambassador of the Foundation for America's Blood Centers. After years 15 years in the corporate world, Larsen's life made a dramatic shift in 2000 when pregnancy complications triggered the need for more than 200 pints of blood, putting her on her current path. Since then, Larsen has hosted numerous fundraisers for blood services in developing countries, preeclampsia awareness and education, and clean water wells in South Sudan. She has given hundreds of blood donation talks and media interviews and co-produced, with her filmmaker husband, dozens of blood donation videos and public service announcements. For more information, please visit: www.laurenwardlarsen.com.
