SABINA, OHIO — The Beam family and their Sabina neighbors fought passionately for the life of their son Jason Beam during his 22-month battle with blood cancer. Their dedication to saving lives continued beyond his death with nearly 100 donors supporting the Sept. 7 blood drive in his name.

“It’s something that was important to Jason,” said Jason’s mother, Cathy Beam, as she donated platelets. “That’s why we do it.”

Jason was diagnosed with acute myeloid leukemia in June 2022 and passed away April 11. The family held two blood drives in Jason’s honor during his treatment, both hosted in a barn on the farm of Jason’s sister, Jessica, and her husband, Wes DeBold.

“It’s a large circle but it’s pretty tight,” said Wes. “Everyone is lifelong friends, and everyone shows up.”

They gathered at Jason’s grave at sunrise Saturday morning before holding the first blood drive in his memory.

The family set an ambitious goal of 100 donors. The blood drive totaled 88 whole blood donors, 75 whole blood units donated, and 10 platelet and plasma donors. The turnout included 57 first time donors with Solvita Blood Center.

“This is by far the biggest we’ve ever done,” said Jason’s father, Craig Beam.

Craig and Cathy Beam spent three months in a Columbus hotel as Jason underwent intense treatment at the James Cancer Hospital. Multiple family members became platelet donors.

“We’ve seen the people waiting hours, and until the next day because they couldn’t get platelets,” said Craig. “We quit counting,” he said when the number of units of blood products Jason received topped 200. “It was closer to 300,” said Cathy. “He received platelets almost every day.”

The family is now fighting for the lives of other patients, symbolized by their “Ready for War” camo t-shirts emblazoned with orange leukemia support ribbons.

“Our grandchildren are all in this,” said Cathy, “our whole family is involved with each generation and all our friends.”

“It’s a celebration of life,” said Jason’s brother Chad Beam. “It was something he would look forward to. He wanted to make sure we continued to do this. There were a lot of times a lot of people were waiting for platelets.”

Jason’s sister, Jessica, was the direct donor for Jason’s 2022 bone marrow transplant.

“I knew in the beginning I was going to be a match,” said Jessica. “I was born on his birthday six years apart. We knew it was the only option if we were going to get him healthy enough, it was still going to take a bone marrow donation.”

Her best friend, Emily Bowers, nursed Jason at the hospice stage. “I helped take care of Jason at the very end,” she said. “You don’t usually see this. It’s something they are very passionate about. It will continue.”

“For the memory of Jason, that’s the main thing,” said family friend Richard Clevenger as he made his 185th lifetime donation. “To let people see that the blood draw is really needed.”

“The first time I ever donated blood was out here,” said lifelong friend Ryan Littleton. “This is my third year. I feel like this is a great cause. I understand now. I wondered, ‘What can I do to help Jason?’ Craig said, ‘What you can do is give blood.’”

Schedule a blood donation with Solvita (formerly Community Blood Center) on the Donor Time app, by calling (937) 461-3220, or at www.donortime.com.