Blood drive set for Andrew Scott Hall

Today from 1 to 5 p.m. and Saturday from 2 to 8 p.m. a Florida Blood Services van will be parked at Park Place Stadium 16 cinema in Pinellas Park accepting blood donations in the name of Andrew Scott Hall.

Hall, 19, is the cerebral palsy sufferer who battled to walk unaided for much of his life, only to lose his left leg to a suspected drunk driver in Safety Harbor Monday. He remains hospitalized at Bayfront Medical Center.

Another blood drive is scheduled on May 12 from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Hudson High School, Hall's alma mater. The drive will be held in front of the school gym. Hudson High is located at 14410 Cobra Way in Hudson.

Today's blood drive is the brainchild of Jerry Gitchel, a Web developer and public speaker. For more information visit Gitchel's site here.

The blood donation van at Park Place Stadium 16 cinema is located at 4385 Park Blvd. in Pinellas Park.

Hall's family is working to establish a fund to pay for his medical care. Check back with www.tampabay.com later to learn more.

Authorities have issued a warrant for the the arrest of the suspected driver in the crash, Joshua Dean West, 24, of Tampa. The warrant is not for the accident but for an alleged violation of probation. West was arrested in Brandon in 2005 for possessing cocaine and marijuana and sentenced to probation, court records show. He violated that probation when officers were unable to find him in January, said Florida Department of Corrections spokeswoman Gretl Plessinger.

Will Van Sant, Times staff writer

Comments

[Sandra]

My daughter knows Andrew and he is a very sweet boy and I hate to see this happen Too him.She attended Hudson High school with him and she says he made everyone smile.When she seen this on the news she was extremely upset.This couldn't happen to Andrew.I hope that everyone will take 10 minutes to donate blood,I know my daughter will be there. Andrew,my heart and prayers are with you and your family.

[glitchel]

Thanks for the comment. I'm in the blood mobile donating right now. Hope all of you can join us! Jerry Gitchel

[WW]

C'mon Hudson High alum, I know there's a lot of you still in the area!!

[colorchanger]

Prayers are with you Andrew, God bless.

[CreativeJuices1]

Hi my name is Cheryl DeLong and I am an artist who has a profile on redbubble.com. I would like to donate all my profits from sales of my work to a fund to help this young man. Does anyone know if such a fund exists yet?