The First Baptist Church of Snellville is holding a blood drive and fundraiser in support of Aimee Copeland, who is suffering from a flesh-eating bacteria.
Hundreds of people turned out on Monday help a woman fighting flesh-eating bacteria. The First Baptist Church of Snellville held a blood drive and fundraiser in support of Aimee Copeland.
Organizers say the turnout was so good, they've had to turn some people away. Their 300 allotted slots for donors filled up quickly. Some who donated blood told FOX 5 that they did not know Aimee, but wanted to do their part to help.
"She is somebody's child and if it was one of my children, I would that hope people would do the same for them," said Elizabeth Ritcher.
The 24-year-old graduate student has already lost a leg, with her hands and remaining foot expected to be amputated as well. She contracted the disease after a zip lining accident near the Tallapoosa River on May 1.
Copeland is in critical condition at the JMS Burn Center in Augusta. Her father updated his Facebook page on Sunday, saying she is now off a ventilator and is breathing on her own. He says Aimee was "cracking jokes and displaying her usual early morning grumpiness".
The Shepard Community Blood Center, which supplies the JMS Burn Center in Augusta where Copeland is a patient, collected the blood. Copeland will then receive credit for every blood donation given.
Organizers said that Aimee has used more than 24 percent of the blood supply being used by patients at the center in August since May 1. Monday's blood drive is part of an ongoing effort to replenish that supply. The drive was coordinated by the South Gwinnett Rotary Club.
"I think Andy has just touched us with his posts and talking about the courage of his daughter, and I think people want to get out there and help," said Barbary Myers of the Rotary Club of South Gwinnett.
More than 400 people turned out today and organizers say they collected more than 200 pints of blood. They also collected money to help pay for Aimee Copeland's medical bills.
Friday, January 25 2013 10:46 PM EST2013-01-26 03:46:04 GMT
Friday, the Snellville woman who nearly lost her life battling a rare flesh-eating bacteria shared her story with students at a DeKalb County elementary school.
Friday, the Snellville woman who nearly lost her life battling a rare flesh-eating bacteria shared her story with students at a DeKalb County elementary school.
The First Baptist Church of Snellville is holding a blood drive and fundraiser in support of Aimee Copeland, who is suffering from a flesh-eating bacteria.
