MUSCATINE, Iowa–In 2021, more than 300 people signed up to donate blood or participate in the other events that took place at the first Love Like Louden event. Encouraged by the community’s support for the event and wanting to do more to raise awareness about the importance of blood donation, organizers will host several Love Like Louden events this summer, including a blood drive, fun run, and shirt sales to benefit ImpactLife Blood Center: “We had an amazing outcome last year with the Love Like Louden events. We can’t thank everyone in our community enough for all the love and support after losing Louden,” shared Love Like Louden organizer Olivia Foglesong.

This year’s Love Like Louden Fun Run will take place in Weed Park at 1 Park Drive, July 23 beginning at 10 a.m. Unlike last year’s event, which included a five kilometer race for adults, this year’s will focus on honoring the life of Louden Lofgren by providing kids with activities to do. These will include fun runs divided up by age groups for children 10 and under and a variety of water games perfect for little ones to enjoy in the summer heat. ImpactLife Blood Center will also attend the event, signing up adults and teens age 16 (with parental permission) or older to donate blood and offering free blood typing to those who do not know their blood type but would like to find out. A free event, organizers will accept any monetary donations for ImpactLife that people would like to make.

For anyone who would like to contribute to Love Like Louden’s efforts to support ImpactLife Blood Center but cannot make it out to the fun run, two other events will take place this summer. Until Aug. 20, anyone wanting to purchase either an adult or child Love Like Louden t-shirt or sweatshirt may do so using the link on the Love Like Louden Facebook page. From July 18 through Aug. 20, people who would like to donate blood may schedule an appointment to do so at an ImpactLife Blood Center and mention that they are donating for the Love Like Louden drive to have their donation credited to the drive.

With so many ways to support Love Like Louden and blood donation in Muscatine, Foglesong would like to see many people continue to back this cause this year: “We want to continue to give back to the community in an area that is of need, which is blood donation. We want Louden’s memory to continue to encourage blood donation, to help others in need, and make a positive impact.”