Earlier this week we told you that Central New York is also dealing with a national blood shortage declared by the Red Cross caused by the rise in respiratory infections of COVID, the Flu and RSV. We thought we’d take a look back at a story from November 2023 about a local man who organizes monthly blood drives and raises funds for breast cancer research. Laurence Segal’s career included working at the Price Is Right in Hollywood along side Bob Barker and announcer Rod Roddy. Click the blue listen tab above to hear produced radio feature story.
The former bowling alley on Erie Boulevard is where Laurence Segal spent time in gym class as he was going to school. The lanes are gone but, instead of tumbling pins, Segal now empties bags upon bags of donated returnable bottles and cans every week.
“Whether it’s bottles and cans for cancer research, blood drives, or being involved in runs or just raising awareness for early detection, prevention for most of my life now.”
Segal asks the public for returnable bottles and cans to raise money for cancer research and support those dealing with it anyway he can.
At a very young age, Segal’s Mother was diagnosed with breast cancer.
“I got involved when my Mom had a double mastectomy in 1987. As a kid, I first got involved back then when my friend Dr. Hal Falk who’s now passed away and Carol Baldwin who’s also now passed away and my Mom started a local chapter of the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation... a little after ’87.”
After Roddy’s death, Segal eventually left Hollywood and came back to Central New York to carry out what has become his passion.
“That even got me more on this advocacy thing, trying to make people aware of the importance of early detection because I promised Rod that I would do that, before he died, that I would tell people to get a colonoscopy, that there’s nothing to be afraid of that it’s painless and simple… to get a mammogram, including men, because men do get breast cancer, even though the frequency of it is not as much as it would be for women. Breast cancer in men tends to be more deadly cause it has a chance to metastasize or spread from the breast to other lymph nodes and organs and its usually too late when a man finds out that he has breast cancer.”
In addition, Segal frequently organizes blood drives with the Red Cross at DeWitt Community Church. His next blood drive is scheduled later this month on January 25th. Click here to schedule a time to donate.
