DULUTH, Minn., Sept. 25 /PRNewswire/ -- CSL Plasma, one of the world's largest collectors of human plasma, is honoring donors from the Duluth area today as part of a statewide observance of "Plasma Protein Therapies Month."

According to Randy Furby, Senior Vice President and General Manager of CSL Plasma, Plasma Protein Therapies Month is helping raise awareness of rare genetic diseases treated with plasma-derived therapies while recognizing the generous contributions of plasma donors in the state,

"Every year, thousands of people around the world with rare diseases depend upon therapies made from donated human plasma," Furby says. "These therapies treat people with hemophilia, von Willebrand's disease, immune disorders, hereditary angioedema, Alpha 1-antitrypsin deficiency and more." According to the Plasma Protein Therapeutics Association, approximately 8.5 million liters of source plasma are donated in the US every year.  

In addition to donors, invited guests to the event which is being held in CSL Plasma's collection center at 106 West Superior Street in Duluth include patients that benefit from plasma-derived therapies and local, state and federal elected officials.

Donors to address gatheringJohn and Mary Gerszewski, who met at the Duluth center in 2007 and married in 2008, will share their perspective which is representative of CSL Plasma donors. John has been donating plasma since 2005. "We know that it helps people," John says. "Mary and I are all about that."