By EMILY SPARACINO / Staff Writer

COLUMBIANA – The American Red Cross will host a two-day blood drive in Columbiana in honor of Mollie Wilder this week.

The drive will start on Thursday, Jan. 10, from 2-7 p.m. at Shelby County High School, and will continue on Friday, Jan. 11, from 2-7 p.m. at the Columbiana Recreation Center.

Wilder was diagnosed with medulloblastoma, a type of brain tumor, when she was 10 years old. Her mother, Reneee Wilder, has hosted several blood drives a year since Mollie was diagnosed, resulting in nearly 800 pints of blood being collected in her honor, according to Laura McCormick with the American Red Cross’s Alabama and Central Gulf Coast Blood District.

Those wanting to make an appointment to donate can visit redcrossblood.org and use the sponsor code “molliewilder.”

Another blood drive will be held in Pelham on Jan. 10.

The Battle of the Badges drive is set for 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Pelham Recreation Center conference room.

It will be a friendly competition among first responders to see who can recruit the most blood donors from their communities.

Everyone who comes to donate blood also will get to cast a vote to help decide the winner.

To make an appointment, visit redcrossblood.org and use the sponsor code “pelham.”