PCHS students give blood at memorial drive

By Staff
Nathan Strickland
PHIL CAMPBELL- Dozens of people strolled in and out of the Phil Campbell High School gymnasium Tuesday to donate blood in memory of a former school student.
The donations were made in honor of Kevin Charles Swinney.
Swinney, 35, passed away on Jan. 12, 2009, after a three-month bout with Leukemia. He also suffered from a rare genetic disease called Xeroderma Pigmentosum (XP), which causes a defect in mechanisms to repair DNA mutations as caused by ultraviolet rays.
It is characterized by the development of pigment abnormalities and skin cancers in areas exposed to the sun. Prevalence is estimated at 1:1,000,000 in the United States. Certain populations have a higher prevalence.
For example, in Japan, the prevalence is estimated as 1:40,000. Prevalence is increased in communities in which consanguinity is common.
Swinney’s older sister, Tammy, suffered from XP as well and passed away from a brain tumor at the age of 31.
Camp Sundown, a camp made for XP patients in New York, and the XP Society plan to also honor Swinney’s memory by sponsoring one child to go to New York and enjoy Camp Sundown.
Months before his passing, Swinney took part in Camp Sundown located in New York for those who suffer from XP. There, Swinney got the chance to spend the night at Yankee Stadium and met some of the World Series Championship team members like catcher for the New York Yankees, Jorge Posada.
Camp Sundown, along with Swinney, will appear in an up coming XP documentary film titled “The Dark Side of the Sun” by Citrullo Films International out of Rome, Italy available this fall.
Elise said her son wanted to find a way to give back and asked to see members from LifeSouth Blood Services.
Swinney had organized the blood drive event just before his passing and family members thought it fitting to carry out his wishes.
Swinney took in two units of blood every three days while he was in treatment.
Charles said he helped LifeSouth set everything up and was the first one in line to give blood on behalf of his son who’s wish for a blood drive came true.
Swinney’s sister and Phil Campbell elementary counselor, Laura Voyles, hopes to make the blood drive an annual thing and believes it will serve as an inspiration for students to give back to the community.