LOUISVILLE, Ky. — One young Kentucky girl born with spina bifida has inspired a nonprofit and state pageant groups to partner together to host a statewide blood drive in her honor.

A pageant girl who was born with spina bifida, 11-year-old Ryan Neighbors has undergone more than 49 surgeries in her life and has received at least five blood transfusions.

Ryan's mother, Shelly King, says those procedures were a vital part of her care.

“It’s been so imperative for her to have these blood transfusions the past couple of months that she wouldn’t be here with us today if it weren’t for people donating," King said.

Honoring Neighbors, Amerifast and the Kentucky Festival Pageants partnered with the Kentucky Blood Center and organized a statewide blood drive dubbed “The Royal Draw.”

“Ryan just attracts people. She attracts the good of people,” King said.

De De Cox is one of the organizers and told Spectrum News 1, “you don’t know where that blood is going to go or who it’s going to, but guess what: it’s going to someone.”

That’s why she is encouraging folks to give the gift of life.

“You have given a small portion of yourself and why wouldn’t you give something bigger than you," Cox said. "Something that saves a child, something that saves an adult, something that is needed now."

Kentucky Blood Center needs blood donations to treat patients at its 70 hospital locations, but COVID-19 protocols have made donating difficult.

Brooke Nevius handles marketing and communications for the blood bank, and she said said, ”on occasion, nobody dies but if someone needs two units of blood they may only get one and may have to come back the next day."

Everyone from family, friends, and even pageant titleholders like Landry Feldmeier rolled up their sleeve to show support

“Throughout out it all her spirit has been on fire whether she’s in the hospital or at home she’s the same girl and is always inspiring me and others,” Feldmeier said.

In doing this, Feldmeier hopes to raise awareness and help others.

“Like this little blood I won’t miss it so to know that it can go to someone to help them even more is just really wild and its a really small way that you can help someone especially in these times,” Felmeier added.

King says it’s great to see the community rally together, not just for her daughter, but for anyone in need.

“That support I think is what help gets you through situations like Ryan is going through. Without our community support and our pageant family, everybody in the state that just seems to love Ryan we wouldn’t be where we are without them,” King said.

Drop by drop, people who showed up to donate blood are making a difference which can save young children’s lives like neighbors

“It feels good to me that like people are like out here for me to give blood because of my health,” says Neighbors.

Now, Neighbors has a hand in saving the lives of others.

“Knowing that like this blood is going to help another person like it feels really good to me."

Blood donors must be at 17-years old and weigh at least 110 pounds. In addition all donors will be tested for COVID-19 antibodies. 

Click here For more information about the Royal Draw Blood Drive.