BAY RIDGE — Three New York Blood Center patients are taking to the airwaves to recruit new blood donors, and encourage existing blood donors to donate blood. Demand for blood has been very high this summer from the 200 hospitals served by NYBC and its regional operations in New York City, Brooklyn / Staten Island, Long Island, the Hudson Valley and New Jersey.

In response to this call to action the Brooklyn Eagle will sponsor a blood drive on Tuesday, Aug. 25, from 10 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. The blood mobile will be parked in front of the Eagle’s Bay Ridge offices at 7410 Fifth Avenue.

Here’s an overview of three profiled patients:

Matthew Long

Matthew Long, a New York City firefighter and 9-11 hero, was struck by a bus in 2005 and nearly killed. He received 68 units of donated blood. “I’ve always given blood annually and never thought I would be a recipient of blood. In the past two and a half years, I’ve had over 40 surgeries, and I’m sure there was blood on hand for each one of them,� said Long, a Bay Ridge resident.

Stacey Mason-Sotille

Stacey Mason-Sotille, a 37-year old mother of two, was 11 months old when she was diagnosed with sickle-cell anemia. The disease has caused gall bladder disease, pulmonary hypertension and temporary blindness. “I’ve been in and out of the hospital three to four times a year,� Stacey Mason said. “I need the blood provided from the New York Blood Center. Without it, I wouldn’t be here and wouldn’t be able to share my life with my children.�

Vivian Martinez

Vivian Martinez, 17, was diagnosed with sickle cell anemia at birth and requires a transfusion of red blood cells every four to five weeks, made possible by the generosity of those who donate blood.

“My whole childhood was just disrupted by it... constantly going in and out of the hospital. I had no hope. The moment I first got transfused, I lifted up my hand and it was strong,� she said.

Rh-negative blood in particular is needed immediately, but healthy people of all blood types and ethnicities are encouraged to donate now to help make certain that our region is prepared for predictable blood needs and any unexpected contingencies. People with Rh-negative blood, including A-, B- and O-, comprise just 15 percent of the population, but their blood can be safely transfused to the remaining 85 percent of the population.

Most notably, people with O-negative blood are known as “universal donors� because their blood can be transfused into anyone. Type O-negative blood is found in just 6 percent of the population but is used more often by patients with other blood types, especially in emergency rooms and trauma situations.

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