(Courtesy photo) A Red Cross blood drive is taking place in Nashua today, Wednesday, in memory of Kristi Cunha, a Nashua teacher who passed three years ago of a severe respiratory infection after battling cancer.

NASHUA — When Kristi Cunha, a longtime special education teacher at Nashua High School North, was diagnosed in 2016 with a rare form of cancer called Myelodysplastic Syndrome, she forged ahead through treatments and ups and downs, never losing sight of her ultimate goal — to return to her classroom to continue dedicating her life to helping her students learn and grow.

After multiple stem cell transplants, which required her to receive blood and platelets on several occasions — blood products that were available thanks to generous donors — Kristi’s doctors in early 2020 declared her in remission, a huge step toward her goal of returning to teaching.

Tragically, it wouldn’t be long before Kristi contracted a severe respiratory infection that her body could not overcome.

Kristi was 43 when she passed in February 2020.

Now, members of Kristi’s family and her wide circle of friends, who started a group called “KRISTISKREW” during her battle, are hosting their first blood drive in her memory.

Called “In Memory of Kristi Cunha Blood Drive,” the event takes place today, Wednesday, from 2-7 p.m. at Nashua High School North, 8 Titan Way.

“Kristi’s loved ones vowed to continue to make a positive impact in her memory, by raising awareness of the need and impact of blood donation while supporting others fighting for their lives,” according to a Red Cross spokeswoman.

Among those loved ones is Jennifer Cunha, Kristi’s sister.

“There are things in life that you don’t know until you need to know it,” Jennifer said. “The importance of blood donation was one of those things for our family. It’s just something that we took for granted.

“Blood would always be there – until the day we needed it to help keep our sister alive,” Jennifer added.

For more information on the drive, go to www.redcrossblood.org, and enter sponsor code “KRISTISKREW.”

If the drive happens to fill up, prospective donors can enter their ZIP code to make a donation at a future drive at their convenience.

Dean Shalhoup may be reached at 594-1256 or dshalhoup@nashuatelegraph.com.