Friends of the late Hunter Bauer will gather Dec. 17 from noon to 5 p.m. at First United Methodist Church’s Beasley Center for the second annual blood drive in memory of Hunter, who died two years ago Dec. 20.

Hunter was just 14 when he became ill in October 2004 with one of the so-called “superbugs” – MRSA.

MRSA is an acronym for Methicillin Resistant Staphylococcus aureus (and is sometimes referred to as MERSA), and it is an antibiotic resistant bacteria that grows in clusters, multiplies very rapidly and can cause many different kinds of infection, ranging from simple skin infections to infection of the bloodstream and toxic shock syndrome, and is spreading rapidly in the United States and worldwide.

Last year’s drive collected some 98 pints for the Red Cross of North Alabama. One of the organizers and mother of one of Hunter’s best friends, Cathy Brett, said the group of friends is determined to exceed last year’s collection.

“The kids will get people to sign up and call everybody who gave last year,” said Brett.

She said 35 to 50 Athens High School students are signed up to participate in this year’s drive. Hunter’s parents, Jack and JoAnn Bauer, and sister, Emilee, will work at the blood drive.

“Friends have baked cookies and brownies to serve in our canteen to people after they give blood,” said Brett. “We have a group who will write thank-you notes and Jack and JoAnn will buy pizza for everybody.”

Donor will also get a specially designed T-shirt.

“What is neat is that one of the four kids on the steering committee—Bart Brown—is now old enough to give blood,” said Brett.

Blood donors must be at least 17 years old and weigh 110 pounds.

JoAnn Bauer said that although her family will always grieve the loss of Hunter, she looks forward to this event to help get information out about MRSA

“The kids, his friends, wanted to do something to remember Hunter that would help people in crisis,” said Bauer. “Hunter did require a lot of blood products while he was in intensive care. We would like to help spread awareness about these superbugs and now there is just so much more information out there two years ago. It isn’t just athletes who get it, but even toddlers.”

Studies approximate that 30 to 50 percent of the population carry colonies of Staphylococcus aureus on their bodies all of the time. Those most susceptible to becoming sick from it are children, the elderly and others with reduced immune system function from diseases such as diabetes and HIV.

MRSA used to be a bacteria that was only found in hospital settings HA-MRSA), but in recent years, MRSA has attacked healthy people who have contracted it within their communities (CA-MRSA). MRSA grows very rapidly in warm, moist areas, and is often seen in athletes and gyms.

For more information, visit: MRSAresources.com.