Blood drive planned for Capt. Jeff Stiles

The Knoxville Police Department is sponsoring a blood drive for Immaculate Conception parishioner Jeff Stiles, who is a captain with the KPD and is battling cancer.

Capt. Stiles, who was diagnosed with multiple myeloma in May and continues his courageous fight to beat the disease, currently is undergoing daily treatment in Nashville.

A special blood drive conducted by the Medic Regional Blood Center has been scheduled for Thursday, Jan. 29, to help Capt. Stiles with his continued treatments. The blood drive will be held in the Knoxville Civic Coliseum Ballroom from 10 a.m. until 6 p.m. Free parking will be provided. All blood types are needed.

Knoxville Police Department spokesman Darrell DeBusk said blood donors who can’t make the Jan. 29 drive are urged to give blood anytime at the Medic Regional Blood Center in Knoxville at 1601 Ailor Ave. or the Medic center in Farragut at 11000 Kingston Pike, Suite 9.

Capt. Stiles and his brother, Lt. Doug Stiles, a parishioner at Holy Ghost, are longtime officers with the Knoxville Police Department who have worked closely with the Diocese of Knoxville on security matters.