Two local events are serving to educate and bring awareness to Latinos about the need to give blood and how to deal with diseases such as cancer and Alzheimer's.

The Latino Merchant Associations and the local chapter of the American Red Cross have organized an annual blood drive for five years featuring cancer patient Arely Navarro. Arely is a 9-year-old San Marcos resident and was diagnosed with leukemia at age 4. However, as Hilda Ance, American Red Cross community outreach consultant, said, "Thanks to blood donations and chemotherapy, she's been declared a survivor." Arely now has a normal life; she plays sports and practices karate.

Organizers call the blood drive the biggest for Latinos in North County and its main purpose is to help those in need of blood transfusions. Ance added that the Latino community is the group that donates the least amount of blood due to the lack of information about it.

"Sixty percent of the Hispanic population is type 0 and can only receive that type, and if we don't donate blood, we put ourselves in risk of not having blood at the time that we need it," Ance said.

The blood drive is scheduled for 10 a.m. to 3:15 p.m. Sept. 17 at El Tigre Market, 606 N. Escondido Blvd., in Escondido. Appointments are highly encouraged by calling the CLA at (760) 414-9661 or by visiting www.givelife.org. Walk-ins are also welcome. For churches, businesses or schools interested in scheduling a blood drive, contact Ance at (858) 514-1637.

After or before you donate blood the same day, you can also go to the Cal State San Marcos third annual Alzheimer's Caregiver Fair. During the fair, attendees will learn how to take care of an Alzheimer's patient, while also caring for themselves, other family members and those in their significant relationships.

"We know that although all of the agencies that attend the fair serve Latinos, Latinos don't often take advantage of these free and informative services. One of our goals is to make this info accessible for our Latino community members," Dr. Sharon Hamill, organizer of the event, said.

This year's fair is dedicated to Dolores Quintero, who died of Alzheimer's disease, and will have information available in both English and Spanish as well as bilingual speakers and event staff. One of the speakers is Francis Martinez-Goodrich from UC San Diego's Alzheimer's Disease Research Center. She specializes in supporting Latinos who are providing care to family members with Alzheimer's disease and other forms of dementia.

The event starts at 9 a.m. and ends at 2 p.m. at the university's M. Gordon Clarke Field House. It's free to the public, but space is limited.

Reservations are highly encouraged by calling (760) 750-3684 or sending an email to care4ad@csusm.edu. For more information about this fair, visit www.csusm.edu/shamill/.

Martha Sarabia, a Cal State San Marcos graduate, lives in San Marcos. Contact her at sarabiamartha@yahoo.com.