A southern Colorado girl can't give blood because she's too young, so on her 12th birthday, she decided to do the next best thing: throw a blood drive.

Bailey Cole's mother said when she asked her what she wanted for her birthday, she told her she wanted to donate blood. But because donors have to be at least 17, with parental permission, to give blood, she realized she wouldn't be able to help out herself. That's when she decided to get other people to help.

Wednesday, she held a blood drive at the American Legion Post 38 in Fountain. Cole told 11 News that she was inspired by a TV show in which a girl was featured who needed many blood transfusions because of a health condition. That inspired Cole to want to help out.

It seems the giving spirit runs in the family too. "In January, it's my sister's birthday, and she's actually going to do a canned food drive, and so we're just going to try to help people out," said Cole.

She couldn't give 11 News an official tally of how many people she was able to draw in for a blood donation, but says it was at least 50, which meets her goal.

If you'd like to help the community by donating blood, just click on the link below for more information.